Imagination Factory

EPFL Robotic exosuits have already found use in a variety of medical applications from helping  Parkinson's patients walk more easily  to letting  kids with spinal muscular atrophy play again . Now a team of researchers from the EPFL have developed a pair of wearable "exo-shorts" (given they only cover the upper thigh and hips) which monitors the steps of the user and automatically jerks them upright out of stumbles and falls. Trips, slips and falls hurt millions of elderly people every year and cause 95 percent of hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries in people over 65. And, while many old people will attempt to self-correct their stumble, they often lack the strength to do so. This device, dubbed the Active Pelvis Orthosis (APO) is designed specifically to prevent that. The exoskeleton sits on a person's hips and monitors their steps, quickly learning their normal gait. But if the suit detects a misstep, whether the hips are at the ...

Of all the reasons  exoskeletons  aren't widespread, weight is one of the biggest. Even the  slickest designs  still tend to need bulky machinery. Not at Carnegie Mellon University, however -- its researchers have  developed  an exoskeleton clutch mechanism that barely weighs anything. Their Electroadhesive Clutch, as the name suggests, relies on  electrostatic adhesion  between specially coated electrode sheets to control spring movement. At 0.05 ounces per pair, it's 30 times lighter than existing clutches, and uses up to 750 times less power. Even if you had hundreds of clutches, the robotic assistance would take a huge strain off your body. And did we mention that there's three times as much torque density? The technology has the potential to help the disabled and rehabilitating get some mobility without having to deal with a large, heavy reminder of their conditions. However, it could also be helpful for robots, where ev...

Sometimes, abandoned medical technology gets a shot at redemption. MIT, Living Proof and Olivo Labs have  discovered  that Strateris, an elastic "second skin" treatment that was only briefly on the market, could be very useful for softening the blow of serious skin conditions like eczema or  psoriasis . The material, which you apply in two steps through creams or gels, traps moisture extremely well -- perfect for very itchy skin. It doesn't have the drawbacks of the usual topical solutions, either. It can last for at least a full day, won't smudge off and can stretch over 250 percent before returning to its original state. It could have more cosmetic purposes as well. While Strateris was originally limited to taking care of skin under the eye, it could also be used to tighten wrinkles and disguise wounds across the body. This second skin has limits -- it's currently expensive, and won't work with makeup. If it goes back into service, thou...