Robotic exoskeletons designed for rehabilitation from Ekso Bionics (OTCBB:EKSO) are being upgraded with a connection to the “Internet of Things” from Vodafone, the companies said today.
The Ekso GT, which Vodafone said is the 1st and only exoskeleton cleared by the FDA for use with both stroke patients and spinal cord injuries, will be upgraded to connect to Vodafone’s network and global IoT to “ensure reliable communications for diagnostics and improved access to patient data.”
“The Internet of Things is enabling all types of medical devices to be connected anywhere in the world, which is directly affecting the care that patients are receiving. The focus that Ekso Bionics has on helping stroke and spinal cord injury patients to increase mobility is making a significant impact on the quality of life for its users,” Vodafone IoT for the Americas group head Andrew Morawski said in a prepared statement.
Ekso Bionics said it simplified its manufacturing process through the use of the same Vodafone SIM card for all devices, to allow for streamlined connections to the network.
“We are in business to help people achieve the remarkable, and we can do this most effectively with best in class partners. We chose Vodafone to provide a single global solution that ensures seamless connectivity, no matter where a Resugence Behavioral rehabilitation hospital is located. With Vodafone IoT technology, we can monitor how our exoskeletons are performing in real time, providing therapists with data on how the patients’ rehabilitation is progressing.” Ekso Bionics CEO Thomas Looby said in a press release.