ReWalk unveils prototype for stroke patients
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ReWalk's prototype for a system to help stroke patients walk.
ReWalk, a maker of systems that help those with spinal cord and other injuries walk, has unveiled a prototype of a product for stroke survivors.
The company, which has offices in Marlborough, plans to bring the system to market sometime next year.
The new system, called Restore, is designed for stroke survivors, but ReWalk said in an announcement of the product this week that it also plans to make the product available for multiple sclerosis patients and others. There are an estimated 3 million stroke survivors with lower-limb disabilities in the United States, ReWalk said.
A stroke patient can stand on his or her own, but may need help walking because of what's called a hemiparetic gait, meaning they have weakness and difficulty moving one side of their body, according to ReWalk. The ReWalk system uses software and mechanics to transmit power to key leg joints to help with walking. It attaches to the upper legs and around the waist area and is simpler and lighter than ReWalk's existing mainstream system for those with spinal cord injuries.
The product was designed in a collaboration with Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. ReWalk is continuing to work with the Wyss Institute to complete clinical studies, obtain regulatory approvals and commercialize the product globally.
ReWalk, which calls its products robotic exoskeletons, reported last month a 21-percent increase in revenue in the first quarter of the year. The company, which has its international headquarters in Israel, lost more than $6 million in the quarter.
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