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The WREX, Wilmington Robotic EXoskeleton, was designed at A. I. DuPont Hospital for Children.
The WREX is a state-of-the-art, light weight exoskeleton with two links and four degrees of motion that approximates normal human anatomy. It incorporates elastic band elevation assists for both the shoulder and elbow to totally eliminate gravity influence on the extremity. The unique design of the shoulder and elbow joints allow for a significant improvement in the available range of motion when compared to other assistive devices.
Developed for people with neuromuscular weakness such as muscle disease, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, that effect upper limbs, WREX acts as a functional aid in activities of daily living. It can also serve as a cost effective exercise/therapy device for people recovering from stroke.
The WREX can be attached to most common wheelchairs and mobility seating systems utilizing one of the three Mount Bases provided with the arm (also known as Mount Relocator).
The WREX is assembled as left or right. The size is adjustable to fit most children through adult arms.
Note: A complete WREX will consist of two product numbers (1) Either a Rt or Lt WREX Arm with Mount (2) The WREX forearm Support that is size appropriate for your patient.
WREX Forearm Support
Measure distance from Olecranon Process to Ulnar Styloid minus 1.
Note: If measured distance is XXX longer, choose next larger size.
Universal left or right.
WFS-6: 6inch Extra Small
WFS-8: 8inch Small
WFS-9: 9inch Medium
WFS-10: 10inch Large
Note: Custom sizes available upon request.
Other Details
At the duPont Hospital for Children they have been helping children suffering with musculoskeletal disabilities for years. Such a disability can effect the muscles and joints in a child, making it very difficult or impossible to use their arms or legs effectively without help.
As part of their research and development, duPont’s Department of Orthopedics developed WREX–the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton. It gives kids (and adults) with muscle weakness much better movement and the ability to lift objects.
WREX is great for older kids and adults, but due to its use of metal parts it was unsuitable for very small children such as two-year-old Emma who you see in the video above. She suffers from Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a rare congenital disorders that sees the muscles and joints shortened, as well as the muscles being weakened.
With WREX being too large for Emma, her movement was greatly restricted as was her development. But the doctors and research team had an idea on how to modify the WREX system to be light enough for Emma to use.
At the hospital they have a Dimension sst 1200es 3D printer and Stratasys 3D production system. They figured out a wearable plastic jacket could be 3D printed to offer the same aid the larger, heavier WREX allows, but in a mobile form a child weighing only 25 pounds could wear.
As you can see from the video, the jacket worked and Emma can now use her arms much more effectively. In fact, that’s her second jacket as she continues to grow larger versions will need to be made. But as it relies on a 3D printer, creating a new one should be as simple as adjusting the size of the 3D model and hitting print.
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