BASALT, Colo., June 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridging Bionics Foundation, a non-profit corporation focused on assisting with funding bionic exoskeletons for community rehabilitation centers, announced today that G.F. Strong Centre in Vancouver BC will deploy their new Ekso Bionics (OTCQB:EKSO) suit on Monday June 9th. As British Columbia's largest rehabilitation centre, G. F. Strong Rehab Centre provides inpatient, outpatient, and clinical support services to clients/patients across British Columbia and the Yukon in four unique programs: Acquired Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Arthritis and Neuro-musculoskeletal. The rehabilitation program at the Centre is known for developing innovative treatments for people with neurological conditions and works in close partnership with the University of British Columbia to train physicians in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and other rehabilitation health professionals.
Until recently, people living with spinal cord injuries had to face the prospect of never walking again as well as living with secondary complications including neuropathic pain, decrease in bone density and bowel and bladder complications. Now, thanks to Mark Tompkins of Montrose Capital Partners and Bridging Bionics Foundation, G.F. Strong Rehab Centre will be able to help patients with a wide range of mobility impairments stand and walk again as part of their rehabilitation program. A growing body of evidence is showing that being upright and walking in an Ekso™ suit may alleviate secondary complications and has a positive effect on patients' emotional and overall wellbeing.
"It was a life changing event for me to see an ambassador stand and walk in the Ekso suit," says donor Mark Tompkins. "Having known people who have been immobilized by a stroke, I saw the tremendous potential of this technology to transform millions of lives. I'm honored to lead the charge in changing people's lives by donating to a rehabilitation center in the city of Vancouver, my hometown."
"It is inspiring to see people stand up from their wheelchairs and walk across the room in their first session, something that they never thought possible," added Russ Angold, chairman of the board for Bridging Bionics Foundation and cofounder of Ekso Bionics. "As a neuro-rehabilitation device, one Ekso suit can help therapists treat a range of patients with a spectrum of injuries including stroke, brain and spinal cord injuries."
Though the idea of bionics may sound futuristic, Ekso Bionics' exoskeleton has a real world application that is helping thousands to walk again; in fact its fleet of exoskeletons is nearing 10,000,000 steps. "If you see it in action, each step is significant," says Angold, "now multiply that by 10 million." Through the efforts of Mark Tompkins and Bridging Bionics Foundation, the patients at G.F. Strong Rehab Centre can count themselves among those adding to the number of new steps taken every day.
ABOUT BRIDGING BIONICS FOUNDATION
Bridging Bionics Foundation is a Colorado non-profit corporation. Their mission is to provide funding, education, and advance the research and development for exoskeletons and bionic technology to augment human mobility and capability. We envision that exoskeletons and bionic technology become standard mobility options globally as we strive to improve the quality of people's lives.
To learn more about Bridging Bionics please visit www.bridgingbionics.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bridgingbionics
Twitter: @bridgingbionics
ABOUT EKSO BIONICS
Since 2005, Ekso Bionics has been pioneering the field of robotic exoskeletons, or wearable robots, to augment human strength, endurance and mobility. The company's first commercially available product, called the Ekso device, has helped thousands of people with paralysis take millions of steps not otherwise possible. By designing and creating some of the most forward-thinking and innovative solutions for people looking to augment human capabilities, Ekso Bionics is helping people rethink current physical limitations and achieve the remarkable.
To learn more about Ekso Bionics please visit www.eksobionics.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eksobionics
Twitter: @eksobionics