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A suit that helps the paralysed to walk

The 'exoskeleton' is helping some patients to walk again

Watch a paralysed patient make her first steps in the video above.

The Economics of Change
The Economics of Change

Paralysis occurs when the brain's impulses to move can't reach the relevant muscles due to damage higher up the nervous system. But often some weaker signals are detectable with sophisticated sensors. A 'hybrid assistive limb' suit, or 'exoskeleton', can pick up those signals, and, with sophisticated robotics, help the limbs to move again. Scientists hope that with training this could help build the synaptic connections required for further rehabilitation.

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