Scientists have developed bionic legs to help some wheelchair-bound individuals with spinal injury to walk again.
The motorised exo-skeleton device uses a variety of sensors and a computer which moves the legs to take a natural step.
Developed by Berkeley Bionics, the eLegs device has allowed Stephanie Sablan, who was paralysed from the waist down in a car in accident, to take her first step since January.
Currently undergoing safety trials at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the machine could one day be used in the homes of patients.
According to abc7 news, Ms Sablan said: "The machine, it actually does just the moving for me, the only thing I'm doing is shifting my weight and keeping my balance, so it takes the steps for me."
In other news, a man with spinal cord injury in the USA is able to stand again after undergoing epidural stimulation, according to a study published in the Lancet.
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Posted by Paul Breen
