They develop the first exoskeleton so that children with paralysis can play in the street

Barcelona"This is not just a device; it is a paradigm shift that will change children's lives." A team of Spanish researchers has developed the first personal children's exoskeleton for children suffering from paralysis. The invention is the result of the collaboration of 45 researchers from different centers in Spain, including the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the main hospitals in Madrid and the biotechnology company Marsi Bionics. Prior to the Explorer – as the new device has been named – Marsi Bionics and the CSIC had already developed Atlas, the world's first pediatric exoskeleton that has been on the market since 2021.

But what sets them apart? The new device takes Atlas to the next level and allows children to use an exoskeleton in their daily lives. Until now, its use was limited to specialized centers, far from the private spaces of each individual. Specifically, there are 32 Atlas devices distributed throughout Spain between public hospitals, special education schools and patient associations. According to the developers, the good results of the first device and the demands of the children who tried it motivated them to adapt the tool so that children can use it to go out on the street, but also on a regular basis at home.

"It all started when we tested the Atlas exoskeleton. By standing up, the children regained autonomy that allowed them to play, get close to things, wash their hands and, ultimately, integrate. .

In fact, the first time an Atlas exoskeleton hit the streets was for Jorge's birthday, one of the 47 children who had tried it. The researchers took it to their school and saw the change that this tool could make in their daily lives. It was then that they began to remodel it and prepare it to adapt it to outdoor use. From all these changes, the Explorer was born, as García explained.

In October 2023, Minerva, aged 6, was also able to try the exoskeleton. "It was difficult for her to pay attention at school because she couldn't hold her head and body up," her mother, Roli, explains to Efe. Now the device has made a big change in her life: in just 32 sessions in four months, the girl has managed to take her first steps, climb onto a stool to brush her teeth, stretch her arms or eat alone. "I never dreamed that my daughter could become so autonomous," Roli admits.

The price of a car

The personal exoskeleton has four motors that mimic the natural functioning of a muscle, and works in two modes: one of movement intention, in which the device complements the user's strength to move forward; and one of automatic, in which the movement is constant at the selected speed. In addition, it has an automatic seat that allows the device to be transformed into an integrated rest chair and is prepared to evolve with the growth of the child himself - it has an age range that goes from 2 years to 17.

Until now there were robots of this type for adults, but no exoskeleton had yet been invented. In order to be able to market it, the approval of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is necessary, but the developers expect to receive the green light before the summer. The future price of the Explorer is still up in the air, but the founder of Marsi Bionics has compared it to the average cost of a car.