Gift of Walking for Vellore India LIFESUIT ROBOTIC EXOSKELETON

Gift of Walking for Vellore India LIFESUIT ROBOTIC EXOSKELETON

by Monty Reed | Jul 21, 2011 (shortlink http://theyshallwalk.org/?p=1026)
Repost from https://www.changemakers.com/users/monty-reed

Summary:
The CMC (Christian Medical College) in Vellore, India provides care to over 5000 outpatients everyday. Spinal cord injuy (SCI) is on the rise due to an increase of motor vehicles and lack of improved infrastructure. The current paralyzed population is treated with equipment that was designed a hundred years ago, the common brace or caliper. The LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton is ready to be shipped to the CMC to allow paralyzed people to walk and exercise. Walking 3 times a week improves the muscle mass and bone density of everyone including paralyzed people. Overall health and quality of life will be improved by the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton in India and the rest of the world.
About You
Organization: They Shall Walk Visit website
About You
First Name
Monty
Last Name
Reed
Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MontyKReed
Facebook Profile
http://www.facebook.com/TheyShallWalk
About Your Organization
Organization Name
They Shall Walk
Organization Website
http://theyshallwalk.org/
Organization Phone
2062505639
Organization Address
6266 13th Ave S
Organization Country
United States, WA, King County
Country where this project is creating social impact
India, TN
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
How long has your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Is the project that you are entering related to this organization?
Yes
Innovation
Entry Form title
Gift of Walking for Vellore India:LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton
What change do you want to bring to the world?
The CMC (Christian Medical College) in Vellore, India provides care to over 5000 outpatients everyday. Spinal cord injuy (SCI) is on the rise due to an increase of motor vehicles and lack of improved infrastructure. The current paralyzed population is treated with equipment that was designed a hundred years ago, the common brace or caliper. The LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton is ready to be shipped to the CMC to allow paralyzed people to walk and exercise. Walking 3 times a week improves the muscle mass and bone density of everyone including paralyzed people. Overall health and quality of life will be improved by the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton in India and the rest of the world.
What are the primary activities of your project?
The gift of walking project is raising money to buy and deliver the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton to the CMC in India. After it is delivered, technicians will train the local staff how to use the devise. Then 24 paralyzed people will be able to share one machine every week to walk for 20-30 minutes a day. The change is longer life, healthier life and better quality of life for paralyzed people
What is innovative about your initiative? How is it a new contribution to the field?
The LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton allows for one physical therapist to assist up to 24 patients in delivering ‘self service physical therapy’. Traditionally a single patient would be treated by 4 therapists. Placed in a harness over a treadmill and helped to move. The ‘exercise based therapy’ results in the passive physical therapy for the muscles. More than 80% of patients who have participated in this therapy have improved health. Many learn to walk again. The sheer cost of therapists is the only thing preventing this therapy from being more widely adopted as the new standard. The LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton is a two legged robot that essentially does the therapy for the patient while the therapist supervises. A patient will be trained over a 2 week time frame and after that the patient will be able to wave at the therapist as they use the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton to do therapy. Robots do not sleep, do not need lunch breaks and they will not complain about working conditions.
Paralyzed people will be able to get the therapy they need and many of them will be able to walk again. They will return to work improving quality of life and income for the family and the community.
What stage is your project in?
Operating for more than 5 years
Tell us about the community that you engage? eg. economic conditions, political structures, norms and values, demographic trends, history, and experience with engagement efforts.
Vellore India is a diverse culture with all religions and almost all the world cultures mixed together. The local population includes Hindu, Muslim and Christians. The mission of the CMC hospital is to provide care. They do not charge a single rupee to anyone who can not afford it. Doctors, nurses and therapists leave politics and religion at the door and focus on the mission of delivering health care. I have immersed myself in the culture, foods, tradition and the history of Vellore, India. The locals have welcomed me and the gift of walking with open arms and treat me as a member of their family.
Share the story of the founder and what inspired the founder to start this project
The founder, Monty K Reed, had a parachute accident in 1986. While hospitalized he was inspired to design and build the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton, a robotic suit that allows paralyzed people to stand, walk and exercise. Although he had regained his ability to walk in a very short time recovery is still an issue after two decades. After nine and a half years of therapy the founder was able to parachute again to “Get back on the horse”. Since then he has used the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton to exercise and recondition his body to a point where he can now ride a bicycle 200 miles in two days. The founder still has problems walking without the LIFESUIT. He is evermore committed to giving the gift of walking to the world. Rotary International has sponsored part of the project and with a little more support the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton will be in use in Vellore Inida. When enough people in Vellore use the LIFESUIT to safely walk and exercise the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton will be available to the rest of the world. Test pilots may apply to the program at www.TheyShallWalk.org Volunteers, donors and advocates are welcome to apply as well. Internships are available as well.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Aging Disability Health care Health education Mentorship Volunteerism Wellness
Please describe how your project has been successful and how that success is measured
Paralyzed people can exercise and walk with the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton. Success will be measured when 50,000 paralyzed people walk in India. Today we have received hundreds of emails, phone calls and letters from paralyzed people and therapists who have hope and are living a more complete life knowing they will walk one day.
How many people have been impacted by your project?
More than 10,000
How many people could be impacted by your project in the next three years?
More than 10,000
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Over a six month period the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton will be delivered to the CMC and 1000 people will walk and exercise. We will train staff from 5 other hospitals on the use of the LIFESUIT.
Task 1
Pay for the Ship and install the LIFSUIT robotic exoskeleton.
Task 2
Train local staff and people from five other hospitals on how to use the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton.
Task 3
Give the gift of walking to 1000 paralyzed people
Identify your 12-month impact milestone
In twelve months 2500 paralyzed people will walk and the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton will be set up in five additional hospitals.
Task 1
Travel to five regions in India to present the project to hospital staff. Offer In Service Training to the staff.
Task 2
Invite staff from all the hospitals in India to come the CMC for training.
Task 3
Deliver the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton to five other sites in India.
How will your project evolve over the next three years?
In addition to the original site at the CMC (Christian Medical College) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. The gift of walking project will expand to five other countries. The gift of walking project will hire and train hundreds of staff worldwide to effect millions of people.
Sustainability
What barriers might hinder the success of your project and how do you plan to overcome them?
Initial cost of the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton, shipping, and customs costs.
Tell us about your partnerships
The Rotary Club of Vellore has supported the the CMC for over sixty years. The rotary clubs in the United States have partnered with Rotary Clubs the world over.
Current annual budget of project, in US dollars
$100,000‐250,000
Explain your selections
Monthly partners donate funds to the project. Individuals make one time or occasional donations. Business make donations to support the project. Friends and family are all supporters of the project.
How do you plan to strengthen your project in the next three years?
Challenges
Which barriers to health and well-being does your innovation address?
Please select up to three in order of relevancy to your project.

PRIMARY
Lack of physical access to care/lack of facilities
SECONDARY
Lack of affordable care
TERTIARY
Lack of insurance/financing options for healthcare
Please describe how your innovation specifically tackles the barriers listed above.
The LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton will help provide physical therapy to paralyzed people at a fraction of the cost. Service can be provided at one fourth the cost of traditional physical therapy.
How are you growing the impact of your organization or initiative?
Please select up to three potential pathways in order of relevancy to you.

PRIMARY
Grown geographic reach: Within host country
SECONDARY
Grown geographic reach: Multi-country
TERTIARY
Grown geographic reach: Global
Please describe which of your growth activities are current or planned for the immediate future.
Deliver and implement the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton to the CMC in Vellore, India. People from twenty five countries have invited us to bring the gift of walking to them. We will expand to five other hospitals in India. Then we will expand to the world. Inviting health care professionals to visit the active sites to be trained on using the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton.
Do you collaborate with any of the following: (Check all that apply)
Government, Technology providers, NGOs/Nonprofits, For profit companies, Academia/universities.
If yes, how have these collaborations helped your innovation to succeed?
The Government of India has given provisional approval saving millions. Technology providers have given in kind donations of parts saving thousands. Other NGOs such as Rotary International, the Vellore Christian Medical College Foundation, and Chambers of Commerce have been essential connectors to work building communities and bridging continents. For profit companies have provided funding and technical support for the project. Universities and Academia have provided undergraduates and graduate students to perform the research that has lead to the development of the LIFESUIT robotic exoskeleton becoming a viable technology.