Japan approves wearable robots for medical devices for the first time

Release date: 2015-12-01

On the 25th, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare officially approved the "robot service" and "medical hybrid auxiliary limbs" (hal) as medical devices sold in Japan for the improvement of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. Walking function. This is the first time the Japanese government has approved the use of wearable robots as medical devices, and will investigate whether it will be included in the scope of applicable insurance.

"Robot suit" and "medical hybrid auxiliary limb" are wearable robots capable of reading human nerve signals, also known as "smart exoskeleton", developed by Professor Hiroyuki Yamae, University of Tsukuba in 1996. In June 2004, Shanhai Jiazhi established a venture company to develop, manufacture and sell such robots.

Normal people's movements are commanded by the brain. The nervous system conducts current signals and drives muscle contraction or relaxation. However, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscular dystrophy have muscle atrophy and cannot be completed after receiving nerve electrical signals. movement.

Devices such as "robot suits" and "medical hybrid auxiliary limbs" use sensors attached to the thighs and knees to read the nerve electrical signals that people want to exercise, and use the built-in computer to manipulate the motor of the joints to help exercise. The nerve current signal that can simulate the feeling of "going away" can be transmitted back to the brain to help restore the body's walking function. This is actually replacing the patient's already shrinking muscle with a motor.

On the 10th of this month, the Expert Meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan recommended that such robots be used as medical devices for the treatment of intractable diseases such as muscle strength decline or muscle atrophy. This proposal was officially approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on the 25th.

Source: Xinhuanet

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