The Spanish company Marsi Bionics has developed an elastic exoskeleton for children that adapts to the child's body and helps him move freely, reports The Guardian. According to the manufacturer, this is the first development of its kind in the world.
The other day, the capabilities of the exoskeleton were demonstrated by its first owner, 12-year-old Jorge Alejo from Madrid. For the first time in his life, a boy with cerebral palsy and used to moving around in a wheelchair was able to stand up and play with his classmates. Prior to that, Jorge had been testing the Marsi Bionics exoskeleton for two years, visiting the clinic twice a week, and on his 12th birthday he was finally able to show off to friends in it. At the school, where the boy first came that day, and did not arrive in a wheelchair, not only his classmates were waiting for him, but also the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez.
Now Marsi Bionics is conducting clinical trials of its only children's exoskeleton in the world together with the Madrid La Paz Hospital and the National Research Council of Spain. If successful, the invention could be a lifesaver for 17 million children around the world who have neurological disorders that prevent them from walking. However, the exoskeleton is not cheap - the cost of purchasing and maintaining can reach 30,000 euros per year. The Jorge family managed to raise this amount through crowdfunding, but it is unlikely that everyone in need will succeed.