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Video: Paralyzed Architect Walks, Thanks To "Bionic Exoskeleton"
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 4, 2011
Modified Nov 4, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 4, 2011
Modified Nov 4, 2011
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On December 14, 2007, a crane's nylon sling, carrying seven tons of steel beams, broke and fell 25 stories onto a construction trailer at the site of the new Goldman Sachs headquarters. Inside the trailer was Robert Woo, a Canadian architect, and he was nearly killed by the crash and doctors said he might not walk again. But recently Woo has been walking, thanks to the Ekso bionic exoskeleton: CityRoom visited Woo at Mount Sinai Medical Center and took video.
Woo says that his three sons, who live in Canada with his wife, think that daddy is like a robot—or a "Transformer." The Ekso bionic exoskeleton is not for home use (yet; a version may be ready in 2013) and Mount Sinai is considering buying the $100,000 model Woo tried out for the rehabilitation department. City Room describes how the apparatus needs a human touch: There's a "hand-held controller operated by a physical therapist, 15 sensors, a small computer, 2 lithium batteries strapped to Mr. Woo’s back and 2 purring motors, resembling holstered shotguns, at his sides." Ekso wants to develop a model that fit under patients' pants.
Woo, who had been designing a new house in Toronto, "with elevators and upward slopes, but no stairs," sued Goldman Sachs and settled (he wouldn't discuss the terms).
Tagged
bionics
construction accident
downtown
exoskeleton
goldman sachs
paralyzed
robert woo
robot
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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