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Ekso Bionics in $100 million joint venture to develop the exoskeleton market in Asia

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Ekso Bionics, Inc. is to establish a joint venture to develop and serve the exoskeleton market in China and other Asian markets and to create a global exoskeleton manufacturing centre.

It will partner with Zhejiang Youchuang Venture Capital Investment Co., Ltd (ZYVC) and Zhejiang Silicon Paradise Asset Management Group.

The joint venture will develop, sell and support exoskeleton products into China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, and will be capitalized at greater than $100 million over its term.

[Read more…] about Ekso Bionics in $100 million joint venture to develop the exoskeleton market in Asia

UPS Foundation supports Ghana’s vaccine drone delivery network

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The UPS Foundation, which leads the global citizenship programs for UPS, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have announced support for the expansion of a medical drone network into Ghana.

Zipline, a California-based automated logistics company, will use drones to make on-demand, emergency deliveries of 148 high priority products including emergency and routine vaccines, blood products and life-saving medications.

The service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from four distribution centres – each equipped with 30 drones – and deliver to over 2,000 health facilities serving 12 million people across the country.

[Read more…] about UPS Foundation supports Ghana’s vaccine drone delivery network

Corin enters the orthopaedic robotics market by acquiring Omni

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UK-based international orthopaedic company Corin Group, backed by the Permira funds, has acquired the US-based Omni Orthopedics, a pioneer in robotic-assisted total knee replacement.

Founded in 1999 by a team of medical device engineers, Omni  is now at the forefront of robotic-assisted knee replacement.

Its OMNIBotics is a unique imageless total knee replacement solution which combines a robotic cutting guide with the world’s first robotic tool to measure ligament function.

[Read more…] about Corin enters the orthopaedic robotics market by acquiring Omni

New heart treatment uses robotic navigation and high-resolution imaging

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Stereotaxis and Acutus Medical have announced the first heart patients have been successfully treated using integrated Stereotaxis Robotic Magnetic Navigation and Acutus AcQMap systems.

The integrated technologies are cleared for use in Europe with additional regulatory clearances expected in the coming months.

The therapeutic approach used in these first patients combines high-resolution real-time cardiac imaging and mapping from Acutus’ AcQMap system with the unprecedented precision and stability of the Stereotaxis Robotic Magnetic Navigation system.

[Read more…] about New heart treatment uses robotic navigation and high-resolution imaging

Honda receives grant for research on Walking Assist Device and Parkinsons’ Disease

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Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and The Ohio State University have been awarded a grant by The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to research the safety and potential positive impact that Honda’s Walking Assist Device could have in helping people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The research partners will conduct a Phase II randomised controlled trial to study the impact of an eight week intervention using the Walking Assist Device to improve mobility in people with PD.

“We have a large body of evidence which suggests that the Honda Walking Assist Device safely and effectively improves the mobility of individuals affected by stroke,” said Kenton Williams, one of the lead research engineers at Honda R&D Americas for the Walking Assist Device development.

[Read more…] about Honda receives grant for research on Walking Assist Device and Parkinsons’ Disease

Bionik Laboratories launches next-generation robotic system for stroke survivors

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Bionik Laboratories Corp. has announced the commercial launch of its newest generation InMotion ARM/HAND robotic system for clinical rehabilitation of stroke survivors and those with mobility impairments due to neurological conditions.

The Company showcased the new technology for the first time at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting last week in Washington, D.C., USA

The improved new generation InMotion ARM/HAND was developed according to the same principals of motor learning and neuro-plasticity that were incorporated into the original InMotion ARM robotic system.

[Read more…] about Bionik Laboratories launches next-generation robotic system for stroke survivors

Senecio Robotics ships AI robotic machine to help combat mosquito-borne diseases

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Senecio Robotics has received a positive patent examination for its mosquito robotic solution, making it the sole company with a positive examination for mosquito robotic sex sorting.

Senecio’s robotic sex sorting module is based on deep-learning technology, with mosquitoes being entered on the right side, with automated loading of male-only (none biting) mosquitoes on the left side into release boxes, after classification and sorting.

The female mosquito is the deadliest animal on the planet and transmits diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, Yellow fever, West Nile, Zika, etc. killing hundreds of thousands of people per year and hospitalising millions.

[Read more…] about Senecio Robotics ships AI robotic machine to help combat mosquito-borne diseases

Toyota Mobility Foundation announces Mobility Unlimited Challenge finalists

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The five finalists in the three-year Mobility Unlimited Challenge have been unveiled at CES in Las Vegas.

The Toyota Mobility Foundation launched the $4 million global challenge in 2017 in partnership with Nesta’s Challenge Prize Centre, with the aim of improving the lives of millions of people with lower-limb paralysis.

The Challenge invited engineers, innovators, and designers from across the world to submit designs for game-changing technologies, incorporating intelligent systems, to improve the mobility and independence of people with lower-limb paralysis.

[Read more…] about Toyota Mobility Foundation announces Mobility Unlimited Challenge finalists

EU report – the digital future could be stressful

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In a new report, EU-OSHA publishes the findings of a major 2-year project to anticipate the effects of digitalisation on occupational safety and health (OSH) in the EU.

The final results of this foresight project highlight developments in ICT-enabled technologies, the potential impact of these technologies on the nature and organisation of work, and the challenges and opportunities to OSH that they may bring.

Increased monitoring of workers, 24/7 availability, frequent job changes and the management of work by algorithm can raise levels of workers’ stress.

[Read more…] about EU report – the digital future could be stressful

Kinova Robotics explains role of automation in health care to Senate committee

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Charles Deguire, president and co-founder of Kinova Robotics, explained the benefits of robotics in the health sector before the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

The Committee invited Deguire to testify as senators study the role of automation in the health care system, particularly robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing, in direct and indirect care to patients and home care.

Charles Deguire, CEO of Kinova, said: “It is clear to us that the future of medicine depends on robotics and its great ability to empower humanity. People cannot imagine how many technological advances in medical robotics have been made in recent years.

“The scalpel and the hand have not changed in the past 100 years, it’s time for medicine to evolve. Kinova is actively working with surgeons to develop better tools for them and their patients.”  [Read more…] about Kinova Robotics explains role of automation in health care to Senate committee