Robotic Suit for Persons with Mobility Problems and Other Health News

A robotic suit that reads brain signals and helps people with mobility problems will be available to rent in Japan for US$2,200 (S$3,217) a month starting on Friday. This is an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly. HAL - short for 'hybrid assistive limb' - is a computerised suit with sensors that read brain signals directing limb movement through the skin. The 22 pound (10 kilogramme) battery-operated computer system is belted to the waist. It captures the brain signals and relays them to mechanical leg braces strapped to the thighs and knees, which then provide robotic assistance to people as they walk. HAL comes in three sizes - small, medium and large - and also has a one-leg version for a 150,000 yen (S$2,193) monthly rental fee. In other Medical News today Putting a fan in your... [read full story]