An Exoskeleton Spine Brace for Scoliosis
From: IEEE Spectrum - 02/08/2016
By: Kristen Clark

A dynamic exoskeleton that gathers data from the human spine could provide
clues for more effective treatment of scoliosis

Researchers at Columbia's School of Engineering are hoping to replace the
current rigid, plastic corrective brace with a smart exoskeleton. Their
prototype bends and moves with the patient's body, while still exerting
targeted force on the affected areas of the spine. This could make it
possible for a patient to get the benefits of bracing, even as she bends,
twists and participates in a variety of activities.

The brace comes with another big advantage: data. Without an x-ray,
traditional braces are effectively black boxes; there's really no way to know
what's going on underneath. The dynamic brace, on the other hand, is equipped
with sensors that measure the amount of force required to align the body.
This data might provide clues about how the patient’s spine is responding to
a particular treatment, giving physicians insight about what to do next.

Read the entire article at:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/video/biomedical/bionics/an-exoskeleton-spine-brace-for-scoliosis

Links:
An Exoskeleton Spine Brace for Scoliosis (with video 3:28)
http://internetmedicine.com/2016/02/14/47497

Is there a body of evidence for the treatment of patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)?
http://scoliosisjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1748-7161-2-19