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Paralyzed Woman Walks Again With 3D-Printed Robotic Exoskeleton

Posted by Soulskill on from the paging-dr.-hawkins dept.

Zothecula writes "3D Systems, in collaboration with Ekso Bionics, has created a 3D-printed robotic exoskeleton that has restored the ability to walk in a woman paralyzed from the waist down. The Ekso-Suit was trialled and demonstrated by Amanda Boxtel, who was told by her doctor that she'd never walk again after a skiing accident in 1992. 'Designers from 3D Systems scanned her body, digitizing the contours of her spine, thighs, and shins, a process that helped them mold the robotic suit to her. Then they combined the suit with a set of mechanical actuators and controls made by EksoBionics. ... One problem that the designers faced in this case was that a paralyzed person like Boxtel often can't know that bruising is happening because she can't feel it. That's dangerous, Summit said, because undetected bruises or abrasions can become infected. "So we had to be very careful with creating geometry that would dodge the parts of the body that it had to dodge...[designing] parts that wouldn't impede circulation or cause bruising."'"

41 comments

  1. Check all the boxes. The perfect article. by DeTech · · Score: 3, Funny

    3d printering. Check.

    Robotics. Check

    Hentai crowd. check

  2. Can she fight crime? by sandbagger · · Score: 4, Funny

    'Cause that would be perfect!

    --
    ---- The above post was generated by the Turing Institute. Maybe.
    1. Re:Can she fight crime? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dead or alive, you're coming with me!

    2. Re:Can she fight crime? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a pity her first name wasn't Barbara instead of Amanda. :-)

      All she needs now is her own clock tower...

    3. Re:Can she fight crime? by durrr · · Score: 1

      Making the dead walk again isn't a planned feature until the 2.0 version.

    4. Re:Can she fight crime? by cygnwolf · · Score: 1

      Is it sad the first place I went with this was that show from the 90's M.A.N.T.I.S.?

      --
      Free Pie! The Pie is Also Evil!
    5. Re:Can she fight crime? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not the only one. I also was reminded of M.A.N.T.I.S.

  3. next step by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    off to elysium!

  4. Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So as luck would have it, I'm one of those unlucky individuals for whom several vertebrae are deteriorating and/or growing bone spurs as I get older.

    On thing that's surprised me is that it's not very common for surgeons to simply replace natural, deteriorating vertebrae with custom-shaped artificial ones. I don't know if it's because the surgery would be too complicated, or what.

    But given all the problems for which 3D printing seems to be a solution, I'm hoping that it will hasten a fix for my back issues.

    1. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please leave the lame puns for when you're browsing and commenting on reddit. HTH HAND.

    2. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by Kilroy_here · · Score: 2

      Well for one thing the spinal cord lies within the lamina of the vertebrae thus preventing an easy replacement of a damaged vertebrae. This alone makes it rather impractical to replace them. As someone who has had the lamina of L-3 - L-5 removed due to having numerous disk herniated I know a little about it. Now if you had suggested 3d printed disks I would think it very possible.

    3. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 1

      I think it would be possible to design a two-part artificial vertebrum (a doral part and a ventral part) that would press together and form a solid-enough substitute. But how would you get the old deteriorated vertebrum out without damaging the spine and spinal nerves?

    4. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by Krishnoid · · Score: 1

      You may want to see if yoga or the like would help. A lot of yoga involves maintaining and improving hip and shoulder flexion to either substitute for decreased/supplement existing range of spinal motion.

    5. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 2

      I think it would be possible to design a two-part artificial vertebrum (a doral part and a ventral part) that would press together and form a solid-enough substitute.

      Almost certainly.

      But how would you get the old deteriorated vertebrum out without damaging the spine and spinal nerves?

      Don't know, but I'll bet they'll be doing it within five years, and it'll be routine within ten years.

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    6. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by Duhavid · · Score: 1

      "how would you get the old deteriorated vertebrum out without damaging the spine and spinal nerves?"

      Leave it in place and have the replacement surround what is being replaced?
      Not sure why the fascination with 3d printing here,
      I don't imagine that the printer would be small enough to operate within the human body. ( someday... )
      Otherwise, who cares how the replacement is formed

      --
      emt 377 emt 4
    7. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by tlambert · · Score: 1

      So as luck would have it, I'm one of those unlucky individuals for whom several vertebrae are deteriorating and/or growing bone spurs as I get older.

      On thing that's surprised me is that it's not very common for surgeons to simply replace natural, deteriorating vertebrae with custom-shaped artificial ones. I don't know if it's because the surgery would be too complicated, or what.

      But given all the problems for which 3D printing seems to be a solution, I'm hoping that it will hasten a fix for my back issues.

      This is typically done by a large shaped autologous bone graft, although there are both Synex titanium expansion implants and artificial vertebral body of the biomimetic nano-hydroxyapatite/ polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) composites in use. Homologous attempt have frequently been unsuccessful due to immune rejection.

      It's generally considered an experimental treatment in the U.S., which means that unless you get into a clinical trial, you are stuck paying out of pocket, since most insurance companies don't cover experimental treatments. Given that the biomimetic composite work was reported in the Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery, medical tourism might also be an option for you. There are also several European clinics that specialize in multilevel ADR, as well as one Australian.

    8. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 1

      Thanks!

    9. Re:Fingers crossed for artificial vertebrae by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't imagine that the printer would be small enough to operate within the human body. ( someday... )

      I for one welcome our flesh-roasting 3D-printing overlords.

  5. 3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by mythosaz · · Score: 5, Informative

    The exoskeleton wasn't 3d printed. A liner for the exoskeleton was.

    That's like getting 3d printed floor-mats in your car and saying "3d printed car!"

    To obtain the perfect fit for Amanda, our designers used 3D scanning to digitize the contours of Amanda’s thighs, shins and spine and create a personalized three-dimensional base to inform the shape of the required assemblies. Sophisticated mechanical actuators and controls, manufactured and provided by Ekso Bionics, were then integrated with the more fluid components that were 3D printed from the customized scans to create the first ever bespoke suit.

    1. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by BlueKitties · · Score: 2

      This isn't entirely accurate. The 3D printing is important because it enabled a custom tailored design which prevents injury. Hence the "more fluid components" were 3D printed -- They just scan the person, and the computer prints an appropriately fitting shell. This is a major boon, since otherwise engineers would need to create custom molds everytime a new shaped leg came into the office.

      --
      "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad." [Ecclesiastes 7:3]
    2. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You and your illuminating, factual clarifications.

    3. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      I certainly agree that a custom fitted "suit" onto which the robotics attach is important.

      Presumably it would have been done before with such arcane voodoo as plaster casts and latex molds.

      This is undoubtedly an advance - but nobody 3D printed a robotic exoskeleton.

    4. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's more like getting a 3d printed car chasis, and saying "3d printed car!"

    5. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 1

      In the old days, they would have done that by molding and sculpting to her contours -- if they had the tech to make the exo suit respond to her commands. That's by far the hardest part.

    6. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Finally, someone read past the breathless hype to get to the truth about 99% of the 3D printing bullshit out there. No one 3D printed an exoskeleton here. That's about as truthful as saying a 3D printed cup holder in a car means someone "3D printed a car". That's about as truthful as real estate listings.

      Yeah, finally some reason to counter the mindless 3D hype that got me banned from Fark!!!

    7. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, no one ever 3D printed the chassis of a car, mostly because cars don't use a chassis much anymore... But it's like "3D printed door handle" becomes "3D printed car!" then the mindless sci-fi geeks think we're two weeks away from warp drives....

    8. Re:3d-printed-exoskeleton LINER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Presumably it would have been done before with... wait for it...

      STRAPS.

      http://eksobionics.com/

      This is just another stupid 3D printing story.

  6. Fork slashdot. by gatfirls · · Score: 1

    1. Everything else
    2. Stories about 3d printers being used for.....3d printing
    3. Bitcoin

  7. Also add by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fights alien queen to save little girl.

  8. Can we still turn off Beta? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I clicked on a story, I got sent from good site to beta. Can we still turn it off or is it soylent news time?

    1. Re:Can we still turn off Beta? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "is it soylent news time?"
      Well, if you haven't registered there yet you missed out on the 1, 2, and 3 digit UIDs, which is another way to say there is some interest. More than a thousand interest, it seems.

    2. Re:Can we still turn off Beta? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, if you haven't registered there yet you missed out on the 1, 2, and 3 digit UIDs

      They're giving them out according to penis size. They're working on guys with four inchers now.

  9. Paralysed man rides again by Mister+Liberty · · Score: 1

    Thanks to wheels made by aluminium forging.

  10. Questions by Greyfox · · Score: 1
    1) Can she punch through walls?

    2) Can a 50 mm autocannon be mounted anywhere on the exoskeleton?

    If the answers to these questions are "yes", I think I might enjoy old age significantly more than I thought I would.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:Questions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the answer to both is an emphatical no
      but you could probably mount a .22 caliber chaingun without much trouble
      baby steps

  11. Hybrid? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hi, word sense police here. Why is it 'Hybrid'? I can't see anything in the article that would indicate anything 'Hybrid'.
    This is just the new BS word we apply to every project to make it seem cool. I bet it's interface is 'Cyber' and the actuators
    use 'Nano-technology'!

    1. Re:Hybrid? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      Hybrid in that the actuators and other mechanical parts are machined, and the "chassis" if you will, was printed. Basically, the parts that connect to her body are printed, and provide an interface to the machined bits that do the heavy lifting.

      So I'm happy with calling it "hybrid". That just means it's not all machined/cast, and not all printed.

  12. Can this be used to our elderly? by RawFoodSaloon · · Score: 1

    I think elderly would have to enjoy this. Might they need this...!

  13. This is great but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is great, but we'll be impressed when she's using it down at her local coffee house, not on stage at a demo with a slightly nervous looking assistant on standby not one meter behind her in case things go horribly wrong.

    We've been seeing these "and now they can walk again!" vids for decades now. But seeing this tech in use out in the real world? Not so much.

    .