Israel may be a relatively small country in square footage and population, but it is home to some big inventions and innovations, particularly in the technology industry. As part of our Federation’s commitment to educating and advocating for our Israeli family, this blog is the third in our monthly series about Israeli inventions that are touching lives in Los Angeles, Israel and the world.
Every few years, those of us who like a good action flick about cyborgs pile into theaters across the country and marvel at special effects that conjure thoughts of a futuristic world in which robots walk the earth. But we don’t have to dream any longer. It’s happening right now in Israel and around the world with ReWalk.
ReWalk is — get this — a robotic exoskeleton that is enabling paraplegics to stand, perform simple tasks around the house, walk, turn, and even climb stairs. Okay, so it’s not a full-on Iron Man-style suit and there’s no face mask or superpowers included, except the ability for people to get out of their wheelchairs and walk again.
This life-changing technology was developed by the Israeli team at ReWalk Robotics. Driving the project was Dr. Amit Goffer, an inventor who became disabled when his ATV crashed in 1997. After becoming quadriplegic, Dr. Goffer realized that humans have been using wheelchairs for hundreds, if not thousands, of years without any advancement in technology. Experiencing the limitations and frustrations that wheelchairs present, such as having to use loading dock elevators at restaurants and theaters with stairs at their main entrance, Dr. Goffer sought to create his game-changing “bionic legs.”
ReWalk straps on from the hips downward and is powered by a wearable battery pack. Forearm crutches help steady the user and provide additional balance. Training centers located all over the world, including Long Beach and Downey, California, are teaching clients how to use the system safely and to meet their needs.
Besides getting more than 1,000 ReWalkers (that’s what they call clients) up out of their chairs and at eye-level with their peers, this technology provides several potential health benefits. According to the ReWalk website, clients have reported reduction of some medications and certain ailments, improved bowel and bladder function, improved mental health, improved sleep and reduced fatigue, decreased body fat, decreased pain, and improved posture and balance.
Though Dr. Goffer retired from ReWalk in 2012, he and his team are now working to create a Segway-like standing wheelchair device for quadriplegics, one that he can actually use himself, called the UPnRIDE.
It’s truly an inspiring story. Rather than giving up after becoming paralyzed, Dr. Goffer sprang to action. He was quoted in 2014 on NoCamels, an Israeli Innovation News site, as saying: “I have the benefit of being confined to a wheelchair so I tried to create the ultimate solution for the handicapped as I see it.” Imagine that — seeing a disability as a positive and using it to your advantage to help thousands of people around the world.
Thanks, Dr. Goffer, and thank you, Israel, for encouraging technology innovations every day!
