The Cionic Sleeve enable patients to walk using muscle stimulation. | Credit: Cionic
Cionic is collaborating with acclaimed designer Yves Behar and his world-renowned multidisciplinary design firm, fuseproject. The collaboration between fuseproject and CIONIC marries thoughtfully inclusive design with revolutionary mobility technology to deliver the Cionic Neural Sleeve, an FDA-cleared bionic leg wearable that uses AI to understand and influence human mobility in real-time, enabling greater access and independence for individuals living with mobility differences such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, and more.
“Building bionic clothing that can augment human movement takes a thoughtful and holistic approach. It starts with advanced technology capable of adapting to each user’s mobility needs to deliver meaningful outcomes. Then we designed it to be comfortable to wear and effortless to use. From software to soft goods, our team of experts have pushed the boundaries of human-machine interface to deliver the future of assistive technology,” said Cionic Founder and CEO Jeremiah Robison. Motivated by Robison’s daughter’s journey with cerebral palsy, Cionic is on a mission to improve mobility for the hundreds of millions living with impaired mobility.
“Ultimately we are creating not just a single solution, but a platform for bionic clothing that can analyze, predict, and augment human movement for all,” said Robison.
Designed to change lives
fuseproject worked with Cionic to deliver a design that prioritizes user experience. “It was imperative to us that the product not only has a significant improvement for users physically but also to remove some of the emotional burdens that come with having a mobility difference.
This meant building a product in tandem with potential users so we understood their needs and could create the best possible solution. Good design serves to humanize technology and provide life-changing solutions,” says Behar, CEO and Founder of fuseproject.
The Cionic Neural Sleeve is designed for everyday wear, and importantly, easy to put on and take off – a critical design element for those with inhibited mobility. The lightweight, breathable fabric feels like an athletic legging, and is available in multiple colors and sizes. Paired with the intuitive Cionic app, the sleeve enables the user to be in control of their own mobility journey.
The Cionic sleeve incorporates skin pads to enable AI-based muscle actuation and enhance patient gait using their own muscles. | Credit: CIONIC
Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas, system chief, neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis at the Ohio Health MS Center, has been an advocate for the Neural Sleeve, seeing two of her MS patients walk better than they had in 10 years after programming the device to their needs.
“This is the first comprehensive system that addresses key muscle groups of the leg, which means it has the potential to improve mobility and function with continued use,” she said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Transformative, real-life results
Cionic trial participants across multiple locations demonstrated strong improvement on the two key measures associated with foot drop: dorsiflexion at heel strike (94% of users), and ankle inversion during swing (88% of users). Notably, when combining the two measures, there was an average improvement of 9° for participants (5° is clinically significant).
Cionic has also been conducting home usability trials to understand the impact of the Neural Sleeve on mobility over time. Not only has reported mobility improved for many of these users, but the number of users experiencing moderate to severe pain was reduced by 60%, and the number of users experiencing moderate to severe anxiety or depression was reduced by 75%.
Beverly Chaidez, who lives with MS and a participant in the home usability trials, described her experience with the Neural Sleeve. “When I started the home usability trial I was only able to walk for about five to 10 minutes at a time, and I used a wheelchair for mobility outside of the home. Today, I can walk for 40 to 50 minutes at a time and I haven’t used my wheelchair in over a month. I feel hopeful and optimistic that I can regain a lot of things that I lost.”
Cionic is now accepting pre-orders for early 2023 delivery.
Editors note: Cionic co-founder and CEO Jeremiah Robison introduced Cionic and the bionic sleeve on a recent episode of The Robot Report Podcast
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