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Helping people with spinal cord injuries walk again


June 17, 2014

Often the subject of science fiction, exoskeletons are emerging as a new and credible technology to allow people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. Exoskeletons now being developed are self-supporting walking frames with powered hip, knee and ankle movements that create motion and resist limb collapse. Dr. Edward Lemaire has received a grant from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to work with Toronto-based Bionik Laboratories Inc. on the development of a Canadian-made exoskeleton called Exolegs, which provides a cost effective and highly functional device for people with spinal cord injuries and lower extremity weakness. The study will use the Rehab Centre's CAREN virtual reality system so that Exolegs can be used in future clinical trials and as a rehabilitation tool.

About the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, closely associated with the university’s Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. OHRI includes more than 1,700 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

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Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
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