Key facts
- A 15-year-old girl named Brooke Hacker, who has cerebral palsy, used a robotic exoskeleton to walk for the first time.
- The exoskeleton enabled Brooke to walk 812 steps, a significant increase from her usual physiotherapy session.
- The technology is developed by Canadian company Trexo Robotics and is currently being trialed in the UK.
- Families involved in the trial are advocating for the exoskeleton to be made available nationwide.
- The cost of the Trexo robot ranges from £40,000 to £50,000.
A 15-year-old girl named Brooke Hacker, who has cerebral palsy, has been able to walk for the first time thanks to a robotic exoskeleton. The trial, held in Carmarthenshire, marked the first time the technology from Canadian company Trexo Robotics has been brought to the UK. Brooke walked 812 steps, a significant increase from her usual physiotherapy sessions, and was able to have her four-year-old sister run alongside her. Her parents, Andrew and Rebecca Hacker, described the experience as "incredible" and "overwhelming", stating they had never seen their daughter walk before.
The Trexo exoskeleton is designed to help children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, and muscular dystrophy, or those who have suffered a stroke or brain injury, to practice walking patterns. The device is adjustable to a child's height, needs, and abilities. The cost of the technology is between £40,000 and £50,000, leading families involved in the trial to call for its nationwide availability and for it to be integrated into the NHS.
Another family, Carys and Marc Bowen, also shared their emotional experience seeing their three-year-old son Hopcyn, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, walk with the Trexo robot. While the limited availability of the device due to its cost was bittersweet, they were happy for the experience and the progress it signifies for their son.
Manmeet Maggu, a co-creator of the Trexo robot, expressed hope that the technology would be rolled out across the NHS in the future, emphasizing the company's commitment to ensuring any child who wishes to walk can do so. The technology is already in use in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.