Exoskeleton rolled out to U.S. rehab centers
Engineer Thomas Dwyer stands with the new Bionic Exoskeleton next to Amanda Boxtel during its launch at the Excel Center on Oct. 21, 2011 in London, England. The bionic device developed by Ekso Bionics is a wearable, battery-powered robotic exoskeleton, designed to aid wheelchair users and those who have suffered from spinal chord injuries to stand and walk.
/ Dan Kitwood/Getty Images(CBS News) Patients with spinal cord and other mobility-inhibiting injuries have a new hope in the form of Ekso, a commercially-available prosthetic exoskeleton that's already been distributed to some of the premier rehab centers around the country.
PICTURES: Rob's miracle: Paralyzed man's first steps
VIDEO: Paralyzed woman walks with exoskeleton
Essentially, Ekso is a ready-to-wear robotic prosthesis that functions as a second pair of legs. With the help of a trained therapist, patients are strapped in and can begin sessions immediately. Motors rest on each hip, which are powered by a lithium ion battery that lasts up to three hours. Also, over 30 sensors that work together on the device to enable life-like walking. If the left crutch is moved forward, the on-board commuter knows to move the right leg and vice-versa.
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Review: Jawbone's UP wristband
A screenshot from Jawbone's UP app
/ Katie Linendoll/JawboneKatie Linendoll, technology expert for CBS' The Early Show and occasional HealthPop contributor, discusses her thoughts on a new gadget hitting the health market.
(CBS) Americans are notorious for failing to track our bodies' "input and output" - how many calories we consume and how many we burn. If we knew better, would we act better?
Enter Jawbone's "UP" - a wristband device that tracks how much you eat, move, and sleep. The gadget, created by a company better known for Bluetooth headsets, was announced at the TED Global medical conference, July 12, 2011.
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