Have you ever imagined what it would be like if paraplegic patients could step out of their wheelchair and walk again. Unfortunately there is still a long way to go but I started trying to make that happen and made some huge steps forward. At the University of Twente I developed a Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthosis for paraplegic walking. This novel design allows paraplegics to have a walking pattern like sound walking. Even with knee bending. The unique design of this orthosis allows for complete freedom of propulsion. This is especially important when at time neural regeneration will become available or functional electrical stimulation of the muscles will become really useful. Also it could be of help for partial paraplegic people as they are able to control some propulsion themselves.
One day I would like to finish my PhD thesis on this spectacular design.
Just walking away from his wheelchair
Patent:
NL1027993C2: Splint for teaching paraplegics how to walk, comprises bracket with hinge parts in hip joint regions connected to supports and to each other via coupling mechanism.