Paralyzed Veterans To Get Robotic Legs from VA From: Today in Manufacturing - 12/17/2015 The Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to pay for robotic legs that could allow scores of paralyzed veterans with spinal cord injuries to walk again. Veterans have been petitioning the VA to do this because many cannot afford the $77,000 needed to pay for the powered exoskeleton called the ReWalk. The device was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for individuals to use at home. VA officials told The Associated Press that that the agency sent a memorandum Dec. 10 outlining its plans to train staff to be able to provide the ReWalk. None, including the ReWalk, are fast enough or can be worn long enough to replace wheelchairs. VA pilot studies found paraplegics who used the exoskeleton as little as four hours a week for three to five months experienced better bowel and bladder function, reduced back pain, improved sleep and less fatigue. About 42,000 veterans are paralyzed. Of them, a fraction would meet the requirement for an exoskeleton. The apparatus requires specific height and weight requirements and works for paraplegics but not for quadriplegics. A supportive belt around the patient's waist keeps the suit in place, and a backpack holds the computer and rechargeable battery. Crutches are used for stability, and the FDA requires an assistant be nearby. Read the entire article at: http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/photos-day-paralyzed-veterans-get-robotic-legs-va http://www.pddnet.com/news/2015/12/va-provide-robotic-legs-paralyzed-vets Links: VA to Provide Robotic Legs to Paralyzed Vets http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/12/va-provide-robotic-legs-paralyzed-vets http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2015/12/va-provide-robotic-legs-paralyzed-vets VA Sets National Policy For Robotic Legs For Paralyzed Vets http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2015/12/va-sets-national-policy-robotic-legs-paralyzed-vets http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/aa96a84cf66747ae9d9e4ee1825ed920/apnewsbreak-va-provide-robotic-legs-paralyzed-vets VA Now Pays for ReWalk’s Exoskeleton for Veterans (with video 3:23) http://www.roboticstrends.com/article/va_now_pays_for_rewalks_exoskeleton_for_veterans Department of Veterans Affairs To Pay For Robotic Legs http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/17/460116193/department-of-veterans-affairs-to-pay-for-robotic-legs ReWalk shares nearly double on news of insurance coverage for US vets http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/bioflash/2015/12/rewalk-shares-nearly-double-on-news-of-insurance.html Exoskeleton Market to Reach $1.8B in 2025 http://www.roboticstrends.com/article/exoskeleton_market_to_reach_1.8b_in_2025 ReWalk Robotics http://rewalk.com