Disabled Doctor Performs First Surgery While Standing Up Thanks to Archelis Exoskeleton

A disabled doctor from Spain could conduct surgery while remaining standing, which was his first time due to the innovative and novel exoskeleton device.

Disable Doctor's First Surgery Standing Up

Newsweek reports that Dr. Faustino Afonso, also a paralympic athlete and the founder of the Athletes Without Borders Association, stayed on his two feet during the full operation. This procedural milestone occurred at the Doctor Aguiar Institute of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery on July 11. Dr. Aguiar was the one who directed the operation.

The institute had recounted the event as a medical history. Dr. Afonso also considers the experience a great success, as his dream has always been to become a surgeon. However, due to his disability, he could not conduct particular procedures. This exoskeleton device, however, has made his dream a reality.

Archelis Exoskeleton

The Archelis exoskeleton enabled Dr. Afonso to meet this medical milestone. A Japanese team originally made the device to support surgeons who must remain standing for prolonged periods during surgery. Nevertheless, this procedural milestone has shown that the novel device boasts versatility and has a huge potential capacity to support people with disabilities.

The device can be likened to a wearable chair, TechCrunch explains. It enables its wearer to walk around freely, but it can also stay in place as a stool or high chair at any point, Orthexo adds.

The non-profit ONCE Foundation offered the Archelis device that Dr. Afonso used. This organization aims to improve the quality of life and accessibility for people with disabilities. They did so to look deeper into the technology's potential capacity to help people with disabilities in actual professional conditions and settings.

The institute explains that the operation emphasizes the need to cooperate and innovate to move forward and be more inclusive.

Exoskeleton Devices

Though the Archelis is booted with cutting-edge technologies, such devices have been around for quite a while now, even tracing back to 1960. As such, back then, General Electric was able to make a 1,500-pound machine that could amplify the strength of humans. Newsweek explains that the device was too big and heavy for it to be properly operated. The project was also disregarded.

Nevertheless, as decades passed, materials became lighter, and devices became more flexible and dexterous.

The use of exoskeletons can be observed in various applications, from healthcare to sports to military armor. Newsweek explains that these devices do not just help persons with disabilities restore their limb function; they can also help individuals who are able-bodied to support tasks that take a physical toll and augment their performance.

At present, however, such devices still cost a lot. They are also not widely accessible or available.

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