the neural sheath: design meets technology
Bionic clothing brand CIONIC collaborates with a Swiss industrial designer Yves Behar and his company fuseproject to reveal the ‘Neural Sleeve’, a revolution in human mobility that thoughtfully blends mobility technology with inclusive design. The FDA-approved bionic leg device makes use of artificial intelligence to allow greater independence for those living with mobility differences such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy.
CIONIC’s founder and CEO, Jeremiah Robison, initially embarked on this ambitious project when his daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His mission became to improve the independence of the hundreds of millions who live with reduced mobility.
images courtesy CIONIC
regain control with increased movement
neural sleeve development, Yves Behar and CIONIC prioritized the user experience, looking for a design for everyday use, that was easy to put on and take off, and that suggested a sports product more than a medical product. Featuring a lightweight, breathable fabric available in multiple colors and sizes, the Neural Sleeve feels like athletic mesh. Once paired with the CIONIC app, the user is in control of their own mobility journey.
Béhar, CEO and founder of fuseproject elaborates: ‘It was imperative for us that the product not only significantly improve users physically, but also remove some of the emotional burdens that come with having a different mobility. TThis meant building a product together with potential users so that we understood their needs and could create the best possible solution. Good design serves to humanize technology and provide life-changing solutions.‘
CIONIC is now accepting pre-orders here for delivery in early 2023.
Jeremiah Robison, Founder and CEO of CIONIC, explains: ‘Building bionic clothing that can augment human movement requires a thoughtful and holistic approach. It starts with advanced technology capable of adapting to each user’s mobility needs to deliver meaningful results.
‘Then we design it to be comfortable to wear and easy to use. From software to soft goods, our team of experts has pushed the limits of the human-machine interface to deliver the future of assistive technology.. Ultimately, we are creating not just a single solution, but a platform for bionic clothing that can analyze, predict, and augment human movement for everyone.‘ Robinson says.
real life results
A statement issued by CIONIC writes: Participants in the CIONIC trial at various sites demonstrated great improvement in the two key measures associated with foot drop: dorsiflexion at heel strike (94% of users) and ankle inversion during swing (88% of users). ). Notably, when combining the two measures, there was an average improvement of 9° for the participants (5° being clinically significant).
CIONIC has also been conducting home usability tests to understand the Neural Sleeve’s impact on mobility over time. Not only has reported mobility improved for many of these users, but the number of users experiencing moderate to severe pain was reduced by 60%, and the number of users experiencing moderate to severe anxiety or depression was reduced by 75%.’
Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas, Chief of the Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis System at the OhioHealth MS Center, advocates for the Neural Sleeve after two of his MS patients have walked better than they have in ten years after programming the device to their needs. She comments: ‘This is the first comprehensive system to target key muscle groups in the leg, meaning it has the potential to improve mobility and function with continued use. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.’
Beverly Chaidez, who lives with multiple sclerosis and a participant in home usability testing, describes his experience with the neural sleeve: ‘When I started the home usability test, I could only walk for five to ten minutes at a time and used a wheelchair to get around outside the home. Today, I can walk 40 to 50 minutes at a time and I haven’t used my wheelchair in over a month. I feel hopeful and optimistic that I can recover many things that I lost..’
