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Step into the Future of Bionics
1. MARKET INSIGHT
Step into the Future of Bionics
By Swathi Allada, Research Analyst
Medical Devices
Frost & Sullivan
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...Medical bionics
technologies are extending
their applications and
widening the diseases
areas. Applications such
as rehabilitating, surgery,
regenerative medicine,
robotics, nanotechnology,
and even military use will
find increased uses for
medical bionics...
Bionics is the field of integrating human-engineered devices to take advantage of functional mechanisms
or structures in the human body.Bionics can be defined as either mechanical or electronic replacements
or as an enhancement to parts of living organisms.Medical bionics electrically stimulate excitable tissues
such as nerves and muscles to offer therapeutic intervention for a number of maladies. Since the
introduction of the heart bionics (pacemakers) in the 1950s, there has been a range of bionic devices
approved for wide clinical applications.The innovations within the bionics industry have had a dramatic
impact on the quality of life of many patients.The bionics industry has witnessed the evolution of a
myriad of technological products, such as the cochlear implants to alleviate severe hearing loss,
pacemakers for abnormal heart rhythms, implantable deep brain stimulators (DBS) to reduce tremors
associated with Parkinson’s disease,and even implantable retina chips for vision loss.The last two decades
saw the development of a large number of bionic implants for diseases that cannot be cured by
traditional treatment methods.
The medical bionics industry will continue to offer novel and innovative technological advancements to
solve the present day challenges and unmet gaps within the medical device industry.The increasing
average lifespan and organ failure/damage arising from lifestyle and organic diseases are expected to
propel the growth of the bionics industry. However, a few pivotal factors, such as device recalls and
complexity of indications,are restraining the adoption and acceptance of bionics products.The associated
high cost of research and development, reduced venture capital funding, and a higher probability of
intellectual property overlap are seen as critical business challenges to bionics manufacturers.The
medical bionics industry is based on different application areas,including vision bionics,ear bionics,heart
bionics, neural bionics, and exoskeleton bionics. Medical bionics technologies are extending their
applications and widening the diseases areas.Applications such as rehabilitating, surgery, regenerative
medicine, robotics, nanotechnology, and even military use will find increased uses for medical bionics.
According to theWorld Health Organization, more than one billion people (approximately 15% of the
world’s population), are living with some form of disability, and about 190 million adults have a major
difficulty functioning.According to a disability statistics report published by the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research, there are approximately 6.8 million community-residents in
United States alone who use assistive devices to help them with mobility. Of the 6.8 million reported
cases, there are 1.7 million wheelchair or scooter riders and about 6.1 million people using other
mobility devices, such as canes, crutches, and walkers.The industry is also looking into leveraging the
existing bionics technology for unaddressed diseases. Bionic robotics or haptic robotics for
neuro-motor rehabilitation is one of the major innovations to look forward to in the future, and these
are expected to have a fast adoption rate.However,the bionics manufactures are currently facing some
challenges in getting their product to market.Obtaining reimbursement for such device is a major hurdle
because the process is time consuming and could take more than 2 to 3 years.Additionally, the costs
associated with bionic prosthetics are expensive,nearly 3 to 4 times the cost of a traditionally-powered
prostheses.
Bionic Exoskeletons Are Here and Are Changing Lives
Bionics are currently used in prostheses or exoskeleton systems for physical rehabilitation and for vision
rehabilitation. Bionics has also been used successfully in amputee rehabilitation. Robotics can be inte-
grated in an exoskeleton,providing functional-based rehabilitation for patients with deficit neuromuscular
function.The robotic exoskeleton provides patients afflicted with paralysis or mobility disability the
ability to stand and walk.The functional-based platform can help patients re-learn proper step patterns
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and weight shifts. Robotics provides hands free, self-supporting, independently controlled walking aids
for mobility impaired patients.These powered exoskeletons are transforming patient rehabilitation.
Some of the key examples of bionic exoskeleton companies include Rewalk,REX Bionics,Ossure Bionic,
Ekso Bionics, and Bionic Robotics.
A Sneak Peek into the Wonderful World of Bionics
The few examples of such bionic technologies that are the transforming the lives of paraplegics are
mentioned below:
Argo MedicalTechnologies Ltd.has developed a walk restorative device for lower limb disabilities called
the ReWalk, which addresses some of the challenges faced by disabled wheelchair users. A lot of
in-depth study was undertaken, resulting in cutting edge ambulation, safety algorithms, and methods
that have been incorporated in the ReWalk.The device is touted to reduce the need for physical therapy
and re-hospitalization due to immobility-related complications in individuals with severe walking
impairments. The ReWalk brings about a healthy alternative, as opposed to being relegated to a
wheelchair with less natural movements.Compared to similar devices in the market,the ReWalk is low
cost and provides better functionality.
Ekso Bionics is another bionic technology company, and it designed the Ekso suit.This suit is helping
patients with lower extremity weakness walk again,as it is technology that allows the patients to utilize
as much of their strength as possible. Initially, these bionic suits were developed to help the victims of
stroke,traumatic brain injury,and spinal cord injury to get back on their feet.These devices were devised
initially for use in the military to help disabled soldiers lift heavy loads and walk further.The Ekso bionic
suits are currently made available to clinics and rehab centres.These devices cannot be purchased by
individuals at the moment, as they still require the assistance of a personal trainer to be operational.
A futuristic robotic exosuit,called as HAL for“HybridAssistive Limb," was originally developed in Japan
but now been tested on paralyzed patients at the Center for Neurorobotic Movement Training in
Bochum, Germany.When a healthy person has the desire to move, the signals for movement are sent
from the brain through spinal cord and to a muscle in body parts (such as leg or arm). In a paralyzed
patient,the weakened signal from the brain is actually picked up by the HAL robotic suit through sensors
attached to patient’s skin and helps the individual to regain some mobility. This robotic exosuit is
currently being used by paraplegic, quadriplegic, stroke, and muscular dystrophy patients in controlled
trials at Bergmannsheil hospital in Germany.
The SYMBIONIC® LEG 3, developed by Össur Americas, has combined a bionic microprocessor knee
and a powered bionic ankle with a proactive powered ankle flexion into a single integrated unit.The
product uses an automatic terrain adaptor that senses the steepness of the slope of the surface on
which the amputee is walking or running and makes an adjustment in the ankle angle of the prosthetic
leg accordingly.That provides the amputee better ground contact and optimal knee response while
ascending or descending ramps. Össur Americas has been recognized for its innovative capabilities in
developing the new bionic prosthetic limb that will refine the life of lower extremity amputees by
delivering the closest possible walking pattern to a natural gait.
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The LongTermVision for Bionics
A few other companies around the globe are developing exoskeleton bionics for people with disabilities.
The steep prices of such devices are about $100,000,but this price is expected to fall with the increase
in production.The days of the wheelchair are over, as society is entering the world of bionics and
transhumanism (transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available
technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities). Bionic
exoskeletons aim to give paraplegics and those who use them super-human strength and endurance,
which has the ability to make users much stronger,more confident,and thus able to improve the overall
quality of lives. With growing demand for robotic assistive devices, the bionic exoskeletons will
experience a greater adoption in the rehabilitation devices market. Additionally, with improvements in
venture capital funding reimbursement for such devices, this market will see a huge growth in the near
future in the rehabilitation market.
