Ekso’s exoskeletons range from systems that help people with limited mobility to those reducing worker injuries in industrial settings. | Source: Ekso Bionics
Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc., a developer of exoskeleton technology for medical and industrial use, last week announced its acceptance into the NVIDIA Connect program. The company said it hopes to use the program’s tools and resources to build a proprietary foundation model for human motion.
Ekso also said it plans to develop and integrate related new artificial intelligence capabilities across its portfolio of enterprise health and personal health devices.
“We are privileged to join a select group of medical device innovators in the NVIDIA Connect program,” stated Scott Davis, CEO of Ekso Bionics. “While our advanced exoskeleton technology platforms are already state of-the art, in some ways, we are only just approaching the starting line as we work to build and leverage what we believe will be the industry’s first known foundation model for human motion in physical rehabilitation.”
Ekso Bionics lightens loads with exoskeletons
San Rafael, Calif.-based Ekso Bionics has developed exoskeletons to amplify human potential by supporting or enhancing strength, endurance, and mobility across medical and industrial applications. The company said it focuses on improving health and quality of life with advanced robotics designed to enhance, amplify, and restore human function.
The company’s technologies range from helping those with paralysis to stand up and walk to enhancing human capabilities on job sites across the globe.
Its Ekso Indego Personal exoskeleton enables patients with mobility impairments the opportunity to walk independently. The company said it offers an easy setup and a quick learning curve, with most users standing and walking their first time with the device.
It features a modular quick-connect design, which allows users to put on and take off the device without assistance. It weighs just 29 lb. (13 kg), making it one of the lightest commercial exoskeletons available on the market, according to Ekso.
The system is a powered lower-limb orthosis, also known as a powered exoskeleton, which enables people with mobility impairments the opportunity to walk independently. Power is provided by sophisticated motors in the knee and hip joints.
Combined with advanced sensors and control strategies, the Ekso Indego allows individuals with gait impairments to stand and walk again, granting them a new level of independence at home and in the community.
NVIDIA and agencies support tech development, use
NVIDIA Connect is a selective program that brings together emerging and established technology companies to accelerate product development and increase cost efficiency. Members gain specialized training and priority engineering support, as well as exclusive access to NVIDIA Corp.’s advanced development kits, GPU platforms, and global ecosystem.
The companies said this helps program members to deliver next-generation solutions in AI and high-performance computing.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) finalized a reimbursement rate for Ekso Indego Personal in April 2024. Today, Medicare beneficiaries with spinal cord injuries now have access to the technology.
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