AutoAmbulator
Getting People Back on Their Feet

New England Rehabilitation Hospital strives to offer the latest in rehabilitation technology. With the AutoAmbulator™, New England Rehabilitation Hospital brings cutting-edge technology into the rehabilitation process. The AutoAmbulator is an innovative therapeutic device designed to help rehabilitate patients who experience difficulty walking.

Patients with gait disorders often experience problems with balance, coordination, posture and generally have an increased risk of falls. An abnormal walking pattern requires more energy and often results in decreased functional ability for even the simplest activities in daily life. For those with a walking impairment, the AutoAmbulator may help advance their rehabilitation process.

The AutoAmbulator is a sophisticated treadmill device unparalleled in its ability to help patients replicate normal walking patterns. Using the therapeutic concept of body weight supported ambulation and robotics, the AutoAmbulator simulates normal walking motion.

Whether an individual has been recently injured or has been unable to walk for years, the AutoAmbulator may be used to improve function. Patients referred to New England Rehabilitation Hospital for treatment and present with a gait disorder have the opportunity to ambulate in a safe environment sooner than they would in a traditional rehabilitation program.

Features

Designed with numerous safety features, the AutoAmbulator holds a patient upright while robotic braces move the patient's legs across a treadmill. Intelligent programs power the AutoAmbulator through its integrated computer system, while sensors track numerous functions, continually monitoring and adjusting power and speed according to each patient's physical requirements.

• Allows the patient to contribute to the movement but provides remaining force to generate the movement
• Synchronized robotic legs allow patients to walk safely, utilizing normal gait patterns
• Designed to allow therapists to safely adjust the amount of weight bearing to each patient's individual rehabilitation plan
• Speed of walking can be varied to patient's tolerance and gradually increase to reproduce gait patterns that simulate normal walking
• To eliminate risk of injury, safety features automatically shut down the machine when an adverse event occurs, such as a severe spasm or if the patient's foot improperly strikes the treadmill

Indications

• Neurological conditions including but not limited to:
• Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Brain Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Prosthetic Training
• Patients who are debilitated from deconditioning or prolonged illness
• Gait and balance disorders

Contraindications & Precautions

• Orthostatic hypotension
• Acute arthritis in lower extremities
• Severe peripheral vascular disease
• Acute deep vein thrombosis
• Known active infection
• Osteopenia/Osteoporosis without fracture
• Decreased sensation
• Uncontrolled bladder or bowel activity (must wear protection)