Exoskeleton Suits for Cerebral Palsy – The Idea

The Iron Man movies have made Exoskeleton Suits a popular idea.   However, Exoskeleton Suits are not only for Marvel Super-Heroes and the military.   With the use of computer assistance or even Artificial Intelligence, an Exoskeleton Suit can serve the purpose of a physical therapists’ that works 24×7.

Here is my Hypothesis:

1.) Brain plasticity is possible

We know that brain plasticity is possible.  We know this because Dr. Michael Merzenich, BRIGHT SAB Member, eminent neuroscientist, winner of the $1million Kavli Prize ,and “the father of neuroplasticity”,  has shown us that under the correct conditions (but not just any conditions) the brain can “re-wire” (1) (2).

2.) Re-training the brain does not come easily

We know that re-training the brain does not come easily (otherwise brain specializations like pattern recognition achieved over of millions of years of evolution could easily be wiped out).  In fact, there is the 10,000 hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell (3).  This posits that that to master some special skill requires 10,000 hours of dedicated practice.  “Mastering a skill” is just another way of saying the brain has been “re-trained or re-wired” and has developed new specializations.     Mike Merzenich’s work confirms that deliberate practice, over an extended time, can in fact alter brain structure and function.

3.) MRI evidence proves the brain can re-wire

There is scientific proof this occurs as MRI’s have been used to look at the brains of concert violinist’s and it is clear that they recruit new areas of the brain, that would not be associated in order to master their skill.

4.) Metering of movement is the challange

Now look at a typical CP patient who has suffered an anoxic brain injury and damage to the basil ganglia.  The issue for these patients is metering of movement.   They can start their muscles, but have a difficult time to  modulate movement.   The result is compensating strategies of either extension or contraction.  Movements appear uncontrolled.   Ask them to pick up a cup of water and what is likely to happen is the cup of water will end up on the floor.  Because of this, frustration sets in quickly, typical PT and OT therapy becomes a lesson in frustration and defeat.   Before long, therapy time becomes an hour to avoid… hardly the recipe to achieve the 10,000 hour rule to master a skill!!

5.) Exoskeleton Suit solves the problems

Enter the Exoskeleton Suit.   If an intelligent Exoskeleton Suit can be built, then therapy can become a 24×7 activity.  With an intelligent design, no longer will a simple movement like grasping a cup be a frustration, it will be a success.  With success, comes confidence and motivation.  The intelligent design will allow the Exoskeleton Suit to provide just enough assistance to ensure successful movement, however, with each passing day, the amount of assistance the suit is providing can be scaled back, ever so slowly, such that the user does not even realize that with each passing day they are doing more and more of the work themselves.

6.) Assisted Therapy re-wires the brain

Before long, maybe just weeks, it is my opinion that the patient would have retrained the brain through plasticity and the motion regulating function of the basil ganglia would have been taken over by some other area of the brain.

Looking at all the possible therapies, the Intelligent Exoskeleton Suit, is the #1 priority for the Bright Foundation.  We believe it can be the key to a full and speedy recovery.

We request that any others interested in this idea to please contact us.