People with Parkinson's disease often develop a problem called "frozen gait," in which their legs stop moving forward while walking. However, a new type of powered exoskeleton has proven to be very effective at keeping these people walking on their legs. Scientists at Harvard and Boston University developed the experimental software device based on a previous project.
It is fixed on the user's waist and upper thigh, and uses integrated sensors to continuously monitor the user's current walking gait. The device uses this data to strategically provide small amounts of electrical assistance via cable-driven actuators that work with the wearer's own muscles to keep their legs swinging forward.
The device has been tested on a 73-year-old Parkinson's disease patient who suffered from freezing of gait more than 10 times a day despite previous surgery and medication.
Almost as soon as he tried out the exoskeleton, he was able to walk indoors without freezing at all. This has only happened to him a few times while walking outside, plus he is able to walk and talk at the same time without freezing, something that had been nearly impossible for him before.
Professor ConorWalsh of Harvard University is the co-corresponding author of a research paper published in Nature Medicine.
Commercial models for the exoskeleton are currently in development. You can see the experimental version currently in use in the video below.
Potential users may also want to check out the existing NextStride system, which uses lasers to project visual targets onto the ground to reduce freezing of gait. Dutch scientists have achieved the same effect using lasers mounted on shoes.