Health Tech

A few months ago we took a look at ReWalk’s latest generation of exoskeleton, the Personal 6.0. The life changing all-in-one device reduced motor size, integrated a battery, and improved gait motion and speed. As amazing as the ReWalk device is, the people behind SuitX, a startup in the exoskeleton market, believe there is a lot of room for improvement. The number 1 issue they see is the lack of exoskeletons designed for children. Kids with certain neurological conditions are just as in need of the devices as adults, and perhaps even more so; according to SuitX, children have a very small window of time to train their muscles for the motion of walking. Learning to walk and stand is the best training for locomotion and allows children to avoid secondary injuries associated with sitting. Current exoskeletons are too big and too heavy for children. SuitX’s Phoenix exoskeleton is unique because it is modular, only requiring small motors attached to standard orthopedics. This results in a much lighter and more manageable device – weighing in at 27 pounds compared to ReWalk’s 50 pounds. It is also cheaper – costing $40,000 instead of $70,000.