Robotic Ankle Helps Stroke Patients Walk
From: NASA Tech Briefs - 09/2005 - page 22

Close to 700,000 Americans suffer strokes every year, and as a result, have
some type of paralysis in their arms, hands, legs, or ankles. To that end,
MIT researchers have created Anklebot, a robotic device that helps stroke
patients regain movement in paralyzed ankles. 

The Anklebot fits around the leg in a brace and helps move the paralyzed
ankle.

According to MIT researcher, Neville Hogan, the device has answered a
long-standing question about whether manual manipulation of a stroke victim's
disabled limb does aid in recovery of the use of that limb. "There has been a
great deal of intuitive belief that this works," Hogan said. "But our
research provided conclusive objective evidence."  

Read the entire article at:
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/stroke-robot.html

Links:
MIT develops 'Anklebot' for stroke patients
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/miot-md070505.php

Robot workout for stroke sufferers
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/08/15/spark.robotic.gym/index.html/