SoldierStrong donated an Indego Therapy exoskeleton to VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System today.
Since SoldierStrong’s inception following the tragic events of 9/11, the Stamford, Conn.-based group has donated more than $3 million of medical devices to help injured veterans. Today’s donation is the organization’s 22nd exoskeleton donation, including the 18th one to the VA system.
Martin Kilbane, Supervisor of Rehabilitation Therapies Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Center, noted that the system currently has a different exoskeleton model in use.
“The donation of this type of device allows us to have more device options for our Veterans who meet the medical clearance and FDA criteria to allow for robotic assisted ambulation post spinal cord injury,” Kilbane said. “When a patient takes his or her first steps. In some instances, the ability to ambulate in these devices can be life changing.”
SoldierStrong co-founder Chris Meek said the organization’s goal to help as many veterans as possible was a significant factor in the local donation.
“VA Northeast Ohio provides comprehensive, seamless health care for more than 112,000 veterans across its region, including too many who have experienced spinal injuries either in service to our country or another situation,” Meek said. “Our donations to other medical centers across the country have shown us that early rehabilitation therapy with an exoskeleton can make a lasting difference in the physical, mental and emotional recovery for patients,” Meek said. “We’re thrilled to help make that difference here, too.”
The Therapy+ software suite, included with each Indego Therapy device, incorporates control algorithms based on proven motor learning principles and allows for an individualized, patient-centric training approach where the device responds to a patient’s active contribution and assists in gait only when necessary. Additionally, therapists have a range of customizable settings within the Therapy+ software suite which allow them to further tailor the behavior of the system to specific impairment and gait needs.
“Our veterans deserve the very best medical care available, and we are incredibly proud to see SoldierStrong and the VA Northeast Ohio Health Care System adding Indego to the range of treatment options accessible to their patients,” Achilleas Dorotheou, head of the human motion and control business unit for Parker Hannifin, in a release from the company. “Combined with our Therapy+ software suite, Indego is becoming an integral tool for clinicians to provide individualized gait therapy sessions to stroke and spinal cord injury patients, and providing a new level of independence.”
