Tech & industry
The value of the global market for rehab robotics is expected to more than quadruple between 2022 and 2030, data suggests. Kings Research reports that the market was recorded at US$239.1m in 2022, with growth likely to take it to US$1026.2m by 2030. As the world's population continues to grow and the field of robotics and AI advances, [...]
Rehab tech firm Medtronic has received US FDA approval for its latest deep brain stimulation product.
Its rechargeable neurostimulator, part of the Percept RC Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) system, has potential applications for a range of neurological conditions. The Percept range is reportedly “the only sensing-enabled DBS system on the market”, allowing the physician to personalise treatment for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia as well as epilepsy. Amaza Reitmeier, vice president and general manager, brain modulation within the Neuromodulation business, which is part of the neuroscience portfolio at Medtronic, said: "Our DBS therapy with exclusive BrainSense technology can help control debilitating tremors for people living with Parkinson's, providing patients with the ability to physically engage in everyday moments – something many of us unintentionally take for granted.
News this week from the US health insurance world has provided encouragement for those pushing to increase access to rehab-based exoskeletons.
For the first time, Medicare, the US federal health insurance programme, has made a payment to rehab tech developer ReWalk for its wearable robotic device that allows paraplegics to walk again. The ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton enables powered hip and knee motion for people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), allowing them to stand upright, walk, turn, and climb up and down stairs. According to reports, the payment of US$94,617 to ReWalk was made via Medicare administrative contractor Noridian Healthcare Solutions. It could be a sign that the news represents recognition of exoskeletons as medically necessary for people with an SCI.
Chatbot technology has emerged as a possible tool to support brain injury rehab, with a study suggesting its potential to boost at-home recovery between clinical therapy sessions. Chatbot technology is defined by IBM as "a computer programme that simulates conversation with human end users, often using NLP to parse inputs and generative AI to automate [...]
GripAble discuss upper and lower limb rehabilitation outcomes after stroke
International efforts to improve the resolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for studying the human brain have led to a ten-fold improvement, a study shows.
GripAble discuss the role of cutting-edge tech in transforming rehabilitation
MetaMotus Galileo, from Fourier Intelligence, ups the ante in neuro-rehab even further
