The Best Reacher Grabber For Wheelchair Users

Many wheelchair users like to carry a grabber or reacher with them. If you are looking for a grabber reacher that is portable and can go in your wheelchair backpack, look into the TeleStick Reacher.

Watch this video of a wheelchair user and his thoughts about the telestick:



This video will tell you more about the features of this remarkable reacher:



For more information visit the TeleStick Website or see this article about Grabbers for wheelchair users

eLegs Exoskeleton Manufacturer Changes Name

Berkeley Bionics, the manufacturer of the exoskeleton for wheelchair users eLEGS has announced that they are changing their name to "Ekso Bionics".

The name change makes sense. The name Berkeley Bionics reflected more about the place where the product was developed. The name Ekso Bionics is more about the product itself.

Slightly more puzzling is the fact that, along with changing the name of the company, they changed the name of the exoskeleton. From the press release:

"From this day forward, the company shall be known as Ekso Bionics, and eLEGS, a device that powers wheelchair users up and gets them standing and walking again, becomes Ekso." That is certain to cause some confusion as many people have come to know the name eLEGS.

Along with the new names come a redesigned website. What is interesting about the website is that instead of differentiating Ekso from the other Exoskeletons for wheelchair users, the new website seems to imply that Ekso is the only exoskeleton. From the company website:

"Ekso is the bionic exoskeleton that allows wheelchair users to stand and walk."

I find that a bit misleading. Ekso is in fact the fourth bionic exoskeleton that allows wheelchair users to stand and walk. The other three being already on the market, while Ekso is still in clinical trials and not expected to be launched until 2012. Many believe that Ekso will be superior to the other Exoseletons but that remains to be seen. I hope that future announcements from the Ekso Bionics management team will help us to better understand their exciting technology and how it is different, or better, from the rest of the pack.

Read more about all four exoskeletons for wheelchair users.

Sunday, 9 October: Heidelberg Wheelchair Marathon

The countdown is on! Only a few days, then in Heidelberg the 11th International wheelchair marathon will start. Already 450 athletes Athletes have registered for this event - find out more about the German Wheelchair Marathon taking place on Sunday, 9 October in Heidelberg Germany.

Help The Austin Exoskeleton Win A da Vinci Award

The Austin Exoskeleton is up for a Davinci Award. What is a Davinci Award? From the website:

The da Vinci Awards® help build awareness of adaptive technologies that can benefit all people, regardless of ability. By nominating, you help us recognize those people and products that bring life-improving technologies to the masses.

While winners of da Vinci Award are selected by judges, according to the website "People's Choice Awards" will also be given to those Finalists receiving the highest number of video views (or votes) on YouTube"

While there are some excellent and deserving technologies there, my favorite of course is the Austin Exoskeleton. Why? Simply because the goal of the Austin Exoskeleton is to bring an affordable exoskeleton to the market. So, PLEASE watch the video below and if you can, share it via blogs, forums and emails.

International Distributor Of Wheelchair Equipment

It can be difficult to find a U.S. distributor of wheelchair and medical equipment which is willing and experienced enough to ship internationally. When you do, it seems that prices are usually so high that it is not worth it. However, one U.S. company I have been in discussion with, Frontline Mobility is a leading international distributor of Medical Equipment. I was surprised to learn that nearly half of their sales are to customers based outside of the United States.

Brain Implants In Wheelchair Users?

According to this article in CNN researchers are testing a robotic arm which will be controlled ONLY by thought. This is exciting news for many wheelchair users. The downside? They are going to do it by implanting electrdes in the BRAIN!

Starting next month, researchers at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland and the University of Pittsburgh will begin testing on spinal cord injury patients whose brains have been implanted with a tiny (2mm by 2mm) electrode array.

While I am in favor of medical research which will help people with disabilities, I do not support medical research which involves brain surgery. Implanting anything in the brain opens up the subject to a variety of problems including infection. Infection can not only be deadly, it can cause further disabilities. And if the research is successful then what? People will be offered this technology only after having electrodes implanted in the brain? Sorry, I think that this goes much too far.

Of course, I am aware that many people with disabilities urgently need technology such. There are people with locked in syndrome that have no mobility at all and being able to control robots via thought would be HUGE. But there must be other ways of reading the brains intent without sticking an electrode in there. For example at University of Maryland, another university in the USA scientist are using brain cap technology to do basically the same thing, that is control a robot via thought. However, the brain cap goes on top of the head. Nothing is implanted. No surgery required. This is cool. This type of research is not only VERY exciting, it is much more ethical in my opinion.

Scientists always use the "end" to justify the "means" so long as it leads to another publication. We will certainly hear lots of stories about how this technology can help so many people. But who will take responsibility when it goes wrong?

Would you agree to have a research scientist implant an electrode inside of your head?

Wheelchair Armrest Pets: A Unique Christmas Gift Idea For A Wheelchair User

Are you looking for a gift for a wheelchair user? Would you like to have a companion who will keep you company in your wheelchair all day long? Consider Wheelchair Armrest Pets.

Wheelchair Armrest Pets will add style and personality to any manual wheelchair with armrests under 12 inches (30.5cm). There are eight wheelchair armrest pets including:

* A Dog named "Wheelie the Pup"
* Mr.Frog
* Hippo-po-Tomas
* Bunny
* Sunshine the Duck
* Peter the Penguin
* Larry the Lion
* Mike the Monkey



A pair of wheelchair armrest pets (one for each armrest) costs euro 39, but that includes shipping by post directly to your home in anywhere in the world. A bit of advice: Wheelchair armrest pets will make a unique Christmas gift idea for a wheelchair user. But shop early, because shipping takes longer during the holidays.

Coming To The UK: Rex Exoskeleton

According to this article in The Scotsman, Rex Exoskeleton is coming to the UK. According to the article, when sold in the UK, the Rex Exoskeleton will cost GBP 90,000.

The only problem is that no dates are given other than "We hope to do this in the next couple of months". However, from the Rex Exoskeleton website, they have announced "Rex now available for international sales." Potential customers are encouraged to come into contact with them and find out more. So, if you are in the UK and are interested in testing the Rex Exoskeleton, contact Rex Bionics and make an appointment.

Exoskeleton To Be Controlled By Brain Waves?

University of Maryland have created a new technology which allows users to control objects, for example an exoskeleton, using only their thoughts. It is called “Brain cap” technology, and Associate Professor of Kinesiology José 'Pepe' L. Contreras-Vidal and his team are using this non-invasive technology to translate thoughts into commands which can control computers and other devices. What kind of devices?

the UMD team is developing a new collaboration with the New Zealand’s start-up Rexbionics, the developer of a powered lower-limb exoskeleton called Rex that could be used to restore gait after spinal cord injury.

Today's exoskeletons are controlled by sensors which detect some kind of input from the user. But imagine a severely paralyzed individual who can not give any input at all. This technology could read the thoughts and translate it to move the exoskeleton. Seems like this technology is far away in the future? Maybe not. Just a couple of years ago exoskeletons seemed far away.

ReWalk Exoskeleton Now Available To The US Public

Until now, exoskeletons have only been available in the USA in clinical trials. That meant that to use an exoskeleton you needed to apply for participation the trial and be selected. Now this has changed. MossRehab in Philadelphia has announced that starting in August they will be the first institution to offer ReWalk for therapeutic use. That means if your doctor gives you a prescription and a green light, you too can use it. According to the press release:

Therapeutic use of ReWalk – I, will be available initially to individuals with spinal cord injuries below T6 level who have none of the following: significant joint deformities, severe spasticity, back instability, unhealed fractures or pressure sores. Patients are required to have a recent DEXA scan for measurement of bone density and recent evaluation and prescription for ReWalk therapy from a rehabilitation physician who can certify that the patient is safe to stand.

How much will treatment cost you?:

Most insurances will cover the therapy as part of a course of physical therapy.

In case you do not remember ReWalk, Artie walked in ReWalk on the Christmas 2010 episode of Glee:



With this step, exoskeletons for wheelchair users can no longer be considered "experimental" and are well on their way to becoming a standard care. It will not be long before most top level US Rehab institutions will offer them. Read more about ReWalk Exoskeleton for wheelchair users.