A wheelchair will no longer be the future for paraplegics | Donald Dingemanse | TEDxSittardGeleen

good afternoon ladies and gentlemen

good afternoon ladies and gentlemen hotel I was starving story about telling

hotel I was starving story about telling

hotel I was starving story about telling you about the day that I met Claudia I

you about the day that I met Claudia I

you about the day that I met Claudia I met her during the last summer in the

met her during the last summer in the

met her during the last summer in the dream all at the University of

dream all at the University of

dream all at the University of Technology in Delft it was a special day

Technology in Delft it was a special day

Technology in Delft it was a special day they said this was the first time that

they said this was the first time that

they said this was the first time that Claudia will be able to stand up with

Claudia will be able to stand up with

Claudia will be able to stand up with our exoskeleton the March that day we

our exoskeleton the March that day we

our exoskeleton the March that day we tested different walk strategies foreign

tested different walk strategies foreign

tested different walk strategies foreign competition that we had at later that

competition that we had at later that

competition that we had at later that year with other exoskeletons ever since

year with other exoskeletons ever since

year with other exoskeletons ever since I was young I have 100 technical

I was young I have 100 technical

I was young I have 100 technical solutions always so interesting and just

solutions always so interesting and just

solutions always so interesting and just created my own stuff made my own toys

created my own stuff made my own toys

created my own stuff made my own toys and I was fascinated to know the things

and I was fascinated to know the things

and I was fascinated to know the things to get to know how things worked the way

to get to know how things worked the way

to get to know how things worked the way they worked and after I finished my

they worked and after I finished my

they worked and after I finished my bachelor and also design engineering I

bachelor and also design engineering I

bachelor and also design engineering I didn’t know what to do but I won’t take

didn’t know what to do but I won’t take

didn’t know what to do but I won’t take gap year and most of my fellow students

gap year and most of my fellow students

gap year and most of my fellow students who take gap year travel to the

who take gap year travel to the

who take gap year travel to the southeast of Asia to develop themselves

southeast of Asia to develop themselves

southeast of Asia to develop themselves as I said and drink a lot of califor

as I said and drink a lot of califor

as I said and drink a lot of califor I made a smaller trip I moved from the

I made a smaller trip I moved from the

I made a smaller trip I moved from the faculty Industrial Design Engineer

faculty Industrial Design Engineer

faculty Industrial Design Engineer Engineering to the dream oh but that’s

Engineering to the dream oh but that’s

Engineering to the dream oh but that’s challenging as it was to travel to

challenging as it was to travel to

challenging as it was to travel to another continent I’ve learned a lot

another continent I’ve learned a lot

another continent I’ve learned a lot this year but this year I wanted to

this year but this year I wanted to

this year but this year I wanted to contribute to this wonderful project to

contribute to this wonderful project to

contribute to this wonderful project to give paraplegics a chance to be able to

give paraplegics a chance to be able to

give paraplegics a chance to be able to walk and stand up again you met Claudia

walk and stand up again you met Claudia

walk and stand up again you met Claudia in the first picture but I’m gonna tell

in the first picture but I’m gonna tell

in the first picture but I’m gonna tell you something a little bit more about

you something a little bit more about

you something a little bit more about who she is and why she’s so special

who she is and why she’s so special

who she is and why she’s so special special for my story Clara was a

special for my story Clara was a

special for my story Clara was a wonderful great horse rider she had

wonderful great horse rider she had

wonderful great horse rider she had several horses herself and a big part of

several horses herself and a big part of

several horses herself and a big part of her life was dedicated to riding a

her life was dedicated to riding a

her life was dedicated to riding a laughs with these animals and only

laughs with these animals and only

laughs with these animals and only Friday 12 years ago she said to her

Friday 12 years ago she said to her

Friday 12 years ago she said to her colleagues have a nice weekend

colleagues have a nice weekend

colleagues have a nice weekend I was Celia Monday and she went for a

I was Celia Monday and she went for a

I was Celia Monday and she went for a few more rounds on a young horse and

few more rounds on a young horse and

few more rounds on a young horse and during that training certainly did horse

during that training certainly did horse

during that training certainly did horse start bucking and reared up the word so

start bucking and reared up the word so

start bucking and reared up the word so so high that she lost her balance and

so high that she lost her balance and

so high that she lost her balance and fell to the ground and she felt nothing

fell to the ground and she felt nothing

fell to the ground and she felt nothing in her legs laying there you know

in her legs laying there you know

in her legs laying there you know horseman she immediately knew something

horseman she immediately knew something

horseman she immediately knew something wasn’t right she even knew she would

wasn’t right she even knew she would

wasn’t right she even knew she would never walk again

never walk again

never walk again later in the hospital became clear that

later in the hospital became clear that

later in the hospital became clear that she broke her back and she was paralyzed

she broke her back and she was paralyzed

she broke her back and she was paralyzed from a lower back to the rest of her

from a lower back to the rest of her

from a lower back to the rest of her feet for life and from that moment she

feet for life and from that moment she

feet for life and from that moment she went from an ordinary life to life bound

went from an ordinary life to life bound

went from an ordinary life to life bound to a wheelchair and she lost her

to a wheelchair and she lost her

to a wheelchair and she lost her mobility and her autonomy

mobility and her autonomy

mobility and her autonomy how could she have ever known that this

how could she have ever known that this

how could she have ever known that this was the last time she was riding a horse

was the last time she was riding a horse

was the last time she was riding a horse or even to be self-moving by doing this

or even to be self-moving by doing this

or even to be self-moving by doing this project I became to know that that this

project I became to know that that this

project I became to know that that this was not an uncommon accident around 450

was not an uncommon accident around 450

was not an uncommon accident around 450 people get a spinal cord injury each

people get a spinal cord injury each

people get a spinal cord injury each year and in the Netherlands around the

year and in the Netherlands around the

year and in the Netherlands around the 8000 people in total who have paraplegia

8000 people in total who have paraplegia

8000 people in total who have paraplegia a wheelchair is a confined solution

a wheelchair is a confined solution

a wheelchair is a confined solution nowadays in fact it is the only solution

nowadays in fact it is the only solution

nowadays in fact it is the only solution and this is a decent solution for almost

and this is a decent solution for almost

and this is a decent solution for almost 400 years now but with the techniques

400 years now but with the techniques

400 years now but with the techniques from now and the perspective I wouldn’t

from now and the perspective I wouldn’t

from now and the perspective I wouldn’t say it’s the best adapted solution

say it’s the best adapted solution

say it’s the best adapted solution anymore and that’s where we come in now

anymore and that’s where we come in now

anymore and that’s where we come in now the stake step back to see if this

the stake step back to see if this

the stake step back to see if this technique is all modern as we think it

technique is all modern as we think it

technique is all modern as we think it is the ideal for nexto-skeleton was

is the ideal for nexto-skeleton was

is the ideal for nexto-skeleton was already far out in a late 9th century

already far out in a late 9th century

already far out in a late 9th century 19th century here is the example which

19th century here is the example which

19th century here is the example which was made for the Russian army to support

was made for the Russian army to support

was made for the Russian army to support the human walking uses Springs to

the human walking uses Springs to

the human walking uses Springs to support it

support it

support it this is another example it’s called

this is another example it’s called

this is another example it’s called parado matter

parado matter

parado matter it uses a steam engine to get power so

it uses a steam engine to get power so

it uses a steam engine to get power so you would walk with boiling water on

you would walk with boiling water on

you would walk with boiling water on your back and that sounds dangerous if

your back and that sounds dangerous if

your back and that sounds dangerous if you ask me now almost 100 years later we

you ask me now almost 100 years later we

you ask me now almost 100 years later we have all new techniques to our disposal

have all new techniques to our disposal

have all new techniques to our disposal we use electricity to power our devices

we use electricity to power our devices

we use electricity to power our devices we use batteries to create mobility for

we use batteries to create mobility for

we use batteries to create mobility for these devices on the left you see the

these devices on the left you see the

these devices on the left you see the result of project Mars of one year full

result of project Mars of one year full

result of project Mars of one year full competition of all students who worked

competition of all students who worked

competition of all students who worked here to predict to make this it’s

here to predict to make this it’s

here to predict to make this it’s totally personalized for Claudia it has

totally personalized for Claudia it has

totally personalized for Claudia it has the same bond lengths as she has and the

the same bond lengths as she has and the

the same bond lengths as she has and the knee joints are on the same height as

knee joints are on the same height as

knee joints are on the same height as her knee I will demonstrate how she can

her knee I will demonstrate how she can

her knee I will demonstrate how she can control we have the input device

control we have the input device

control we have the input device integrated in a crutch and if you select

integrated in a crutch and if you select

integrated in a crutch and if you select the continuous walking then it will

the continuous walking then it will

the continuous walking then it will automatically walk as you want you get

automatically walk as you want you get

automatically walk as you want you get off the safety button and you select

off the safety button and you select

off the safety button and you select execute and the exoskeleton will walk

execute and the exoskeleton will walk

execute and the exoskeleton will walk the paraplegic

the paraplegic

the paraplegic how cool is that so with all the new

how cool is that so with all the new

how cool is that so with all the new techniques exoskeletons are now able to

techniques exoskeletons are now able to

techniques exoskeletons are now able to to walk and to stand up with paraplegics

to walk and to stand up with paraplegics

to walk and to stand up with paraplegics but let me take you a little bit more in

but let me take you a little bit more in

but let me take you a little bit more in depth in what happens when you become a

depth in what happens when you become a

depth in what happens when you become a paraplegic what happens inside your body

paraplegic what happens inside your body

paraplegic what happens inside your body therefore because even after thousands

therefore because even after thousands

therefore because even after thousands of years of evolution you wouldn’t

of years of evolution you wouldn’t

of years of evolution you wouldn’t expect the claudia broke her back so

expect the claudia broke her back so

expect the claudia broke her back so easily if we analyze the human body we

easily if we analyze the human body we

easily if we analyze the human body we have three types of structures that are

have three types of structures that are

have three types of structures that are needed to be self moving bones muscles

needed to be self moving bones muscles

needed to be self moving bones muscles nerves the bone was definitely broken

nerves the bone was definitely broken

nerves the bone was definitely broken during the fall but as we all know a

during the fall but as we all know a

during the fall but as we all know a bone will heal by itself with a right

bone will heal by itself with a right

bone will heal by itself with a right cast and a right amount of rest still

cast and a right amount of rest still

cast and a right amount of rest still the bone of Claudia is still in use and

the bone of Claudia is still in use and

the bone of Claudia is still in use and will carry most of her weight during

will carry most of her weight during

will carry most of her weight during walking and

walking and

walking and this brings me to the nut muscles the

this brings me to the nut muscles the

this brings me to the nut muscles the muscles didn’t have much damage perhaps

muscles didn’t have much damage perhaps

muscles didn’t have much damage perhaps they’re stretched up or caused some

they’re stretched up or caused some

they’re stretched up or caused some bruises but they are still physically

bruises but they are still physically

bruises but they are still physically there only they dysfunction and this

there only they dysfunction and this

there only they dysfunction and this brings me to the cause of this problem

brings me to the cause of this problem

brings me to the cause of this problem function the nerve systems the nerve

function the nerve systems the nerve

function the nerve systems the nerve system are the lines in the human body

system are the lines in the human body

system are the lines in the human body which transferred information from your

which transferred information from your

which transferred information from your brain to your muscles and back and

brain to your muscles and back and

brain to your muscles and back and somewhere between those points the

somewhere between those points the

somewhere between those points the signal is permanently blocked so the

signal is permanently blocked so the

signal is permanently blocked so the paraplegic don’t receive any any

paraplegic don’t receive any any

paraplegic don’t receive any any information about how is leg standing

information about how is leg standing

information about how is leg standing what does he feel for example when I

what does he feel for example when I

what does he feel for example when I move my leg up in front I know it’s in

move my leg up in front I know it’s in

move my leg up in front I know it’s in front without even looking and

front without even looking and

front without even looking and paraplegic don’t even know if his right

paraplegic don’t even know if his right

paraplegic don’t even know if his right leg is moving or slack left is moving so

leg is moving or slack left is moving so

leg is moving or slack left is moving so they don’t have really that experience

they don’t have really that experience

they don’t have really that experience and let me take you to another

and let me take you to another

and let me take you to another experience Claudia had when she stood up

experience Claudia had when she stood up

experience Claudia had when she stood up for the first time it felt it was like

for the first time it felt it was like

for the first time it felt it was like yesterday that she stood up self without

yesterday that she stood up self without

yesterday that she stood up self without an exoskeleton only that she didn’t

an exoskeleton only that she didn’t

an exoskeleton only that she didn’t expected that it had such an impact on

expected that it had such an impact on

expected that it had such an impact on her to be on the same high level to have

her to be on the same high level to have

her to be on the same high level to have the conversation but it took a lot of

the conversation but it took a lot of

the conversation but it took a lot of her as physically as mentally to receive

her as physically as mentally to receive

her as physically as mentally to receive the balance that you don’t even feel

the balance that you don’t even feel

the balance that you don’t even feel where your weight shift is and even

where your weight shift is and even

where your weight shift is and even after training within commercial

after training within commercial

after training within commercial exoskeleton her medical condition

exoskeleton her medical condition

exoskeleton her medical condition improves a lot only after four weeks she

improves a lot only after four weeks she

improves a lot only after four weeks she could reduce how awful for medicine

could reduce how awful for medicine

could reduce how awful for medicine that’s incredible and how does it come

that’s incredible and how does it come

that’s incredible and how does it come that you hear all those benefits and I

that you hear all those benefits and I

that you hear all those benefits and I should think a paraplegic hardly wishes

should think a paraplegic hardly wishes

should think a paraplegic hardly wishes – wishes to have an exoskeleton but how

– wishes to have an exoskeleton but how

– wishes to have an exoskeleton but how does it come that we see so less of them

does it come that we see so less of them

does it come that we see so less of them in the society and this brings me to how

in the society and this brings me to how

in the society and this brings me to how far are we actually with the

far are we actually with the

far are we actually with the exoskeletons

um I forgot my line over here but okay

um I forgot my line over here but okay let me take you back to the accident

let me take you back to the accident

let me take you back to the accident during that accident if she had lost

during that accident if she had lost

during that accident if she had lost both of her legs that they needed to be

both of her legs that they needed to be

both of her legs that they needed to be amputated she will get from the health

amputated she will get from the health

amputated she will get from the health insurance she will get a wheelchair and

insurance she will get a wheelchair and

insurance she will get a wheelchair and purchases and now with her current

purchases and now with her current

purchases and now with her current situation that she only lost control of

situation that she only lost control of

situation that she only lost control of her muscles she only received a

her muscles she only received a

her muscles she only received a wheelchair which seems unfair in my eyes

wheelchair which seems unfair in my eyes

wheelchair which seems unfair in my eyes in February 2016 somewhere in the north

in February 2016 somewhere in the north

in February 2016 somewhere in the north region of the United States the first

region of the United States the first

region of the United States the first reimbursement of nexto-skeleton was

reimbursement of nexto-skeleton was

reimbursement of nexto-skeleton was provided it was for personal use for a

provided it was for personal use for a

provided it was for personal use for a person who had spinal cord injury but

person who had spinal cord injury but

person who had spinal cord injury but this was just only one case and there

this was just only one case and there

this was just only one case and there are several more people who are in need

are several more people who are in need

are several more people who are in need of an exoskeleton but why don’t their

of an exoskeleton but why don’t their

of an exoskeleton but why don’t their people buy an exoskeleton themselves

people buy an exoskeleton themselves

people buy an exoskeleton themselves this because of the high cost necks of

this because of the high cost necks of

this because of the high cost necks of skeletons around eighty seventy thousand

skeletons around eighty seventy thousand

skeletons around eighty seventy thousand euros and for many people it is way too

euros and for many people it is way too

euros and for many people it is way too much to set aside to be able to walk

much to set aside to be able to walk

much to set aside to be able to walk again and I should think that we should

again and I should think that we should

again and I should think that we should fund exoskeletons and we should support

fund exoskeletons and we should support

fund exoskeletons and we should support research in finding new ways to build

research in finding new ways to build

research in finding new ways to build them because walking is a necessity a

them because walking is a necessity a

them because walking is a necessity a necessity to be a few human being and I

necessity to be a few human being and I

necessity to be a few human being and I think that exoskeleton research should

think that exoskeleton research should

think that exoskeleton research should be more provided endeavor I strongly

be more provided endeavor I strongly

be more provided endeavor I strongly believe that exoskeletons will be the

believe that exoskeletons will be the

believe that exoskeletons will be the future thank you

future thank you

future thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] you