Eligibility
What conditions are suitable for exoskeleton rehabilitation?
The exoskeleton is used for patients with neurological disorders (diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system). The main conditions treated are Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, and Acquired Brain Injuries in adults, and Cerebral Palsy, and Genetic Conditions in children. However many other conditions causing weakness of the lower limbs may be treated using the exoskeleton.
Eligibility:
Patients must meet certain criteria in order to be able to use the exoskeleton. Please see below the Adult and Paediatric criteria:
- Elbows and shoulders must be able to support crutches or a walker
- Hip width and leg segment lengths are within the range of adjustability of the device (height range approximately 5’ to 6’3’’)
- Weight does not exceed 100kg
- The patient must have healthy bone density (amount of bone mineral in bone tissue)
- Clearance from a doctor to stand and walk
- Weight under 35kg
- Shoe size under UK 1
- A leg length between 54-72cm (approximately aged 3 to 10 years old)
- A hip width under 34cm
- Clearance from a doctor to stand and walk
I would like to try it – What do I need to do?
You can contact the service via email exoskeleton@dcu.ie and they will be able to guide you.
You will need to answer some pre-screen questions to establish your suitability. You will then be required to get your GP to sign a form clearing you to be assessed by the team here. The assessment done by the Exoskeleton team and will establish if you would be safe to use the suit. A trial of the suit would happen at that stage.