Exoskeleton allows wheelchair user to walk

People who use wheelchairs may one day be able to walk with the help of this Atalante X exoskeleton.

Made by French firm Wandercraft, it supports people in a standing position and is controlled with a hand-held device. It can currently only be used inside hospitals, but the company plans to make future versions that could be used anywhere.

Raphael uses a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, and he has rehabilitation sessions in the exoskeleton to improve his core muscle strength. Some clinics use the exoskeleton to help people relearn to walk after a stroke, where it aids them in regaining strength and balance.

Last week, a new research programme began to investigate the exoskeleton’s effectiveness at helping people with spinal cord injuries and motor neuron disease.