Philadelphia-Tested Robotic Legs Get FDA Approval For Home Use
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A high-tech prosthetic device tested first in Philadelphia has now received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for use outside the hospital environment.
The electronic device, "Rewalk," fits like a robotic suit of armor on the legs of a person with paralysis, enabling him or her to walk.
Dr. Alberto Esquenazi, chief medical officer at Moss Rehab in Philadelphia, says that before now, the device could only be used in a hospital.
"This is an incredible step forward in allowing patients who normally would be unable to walk, who are dependent on wheelchairs, to now be able to use a device that will permit them walking mobility around their house and the community," he says.
But in-hospital training is still required for each user, he points out.