{
  "id": 1051336,
  "title": "FDA approves first self-balancing, personal exoskeleton",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/fda-approves-first-self-balancing-personal-exoskeleton",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-15T14:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-fda-personal-exoskeleton.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Eve, the first self-balancing personal exoskeleton, for use by eligible adult wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries. Designed to be operated remotely, Eve enables users to walk and perform daily activities hands-free on level indoor surfaces and nearby outdoor areas under the supervision of a specially trained companion. A clinical trial conducted at three sites demonstrated that both users and companions could learn to use Eve effectively, achieving important functional and usability goals such as improved walking performance, daily living activities, lower-limb function, and spasticity. Participants also reported positive changes in their health status, psychological well-being, endurance, balance, sleep quality, and bladder/bowel function following Eve use. The FDA's approval of Eve is significant because it was evaluated not only on its technical performance but also on how users and companions could safely incorporate it into everyday activities. Gail Forrest, director of the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation at the Kessler Foundation, emphasized the importance of these findings in real-world settings.",
  "summary": "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared Eve (Wandercraft), the first self-balancing personal exoskeleton for eligible adult wheelchair users living with spinal cord injury.",
  "key_points": [
    "FDA approves Eve, first self-balancing personal exoskeleton",
    "Designed for wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries",
    "Improves walking, daily activities, and health following use"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}