A breakthrough in robotic therapy. The Myomo orthosis is now helping those suffering from paralyzed or weakened arms and hands gain back motion.
“I just really see the excitement and hope it brings patients,” says Myomo business manager, Kim Smith.
The device reads nerve signals from the surface of the skin. It then activates small motors to move the arm and hand. The brace amps up the weak muscle signal to move the limb.This device is for those who’ve suffered from strokes or similar disabilities. Myomo’s business manager says repetition of these movements can really do wonders.
“We have some patients who are able to return to work. It’s basically the future and the hope that there is a way to restore that arm,” says Smith.
Myomo is targeting a specific audience, veterans. About 3.8 million veterans in the U.S are disabled. This device not only helps them gain function back to their elbow or their arms but also their independence. And that is something the Veteran Outreach Center in Davenport is looking forward to.
“We have a lot of disabled veterans and we need to continue to strive and grow in this area to reach out more and more to help them,” says Lola Vandewalle, found of the Veteran Outreach Center in Davenport.
And the demand for the device is only growing.
“There are 350,000 new cases every year so we’re seeing a huge need for it,” says Smith.
Myomo aims to not only restore the arm mobility of veterans but also their independence and pride.
For more information on the Myomo orthosis, click here.
