iWalk Showcases First Commercially Available Personal Bionics System at the 2012 AOPA National Assembly

Interactive Exhibit Demonstrates the BiOM^® Ankle System’s Ability to Emulate Muscles and Tendons and Enable People to Walk with the Same Gait and Effort as Non-Amputees

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iWalk, the leader in Personal Bionics™, will demonstrate its BiOM^® Ankle System at the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (AOPA) National Assembly in Boston this week. It is the first time the BiOM Ankle System, the personal bionic intervention enabling natural movement for lower-limb amputees, will be showcased at the U.S.’s largest gathering of O&P professionals.

“We’re only just scratching the surface with the BiOM Ankle System. Stop by our booth at AOPA to get the full Personal Bionics experience and learn more about how our products will redefine the orthotic and prosthetic fields.”

iWalk has created a golf course-themed booth (#117) to illustrate the BiOM system’s applicability for amputees to return to the everyday activities—at home and on the job—and the recreational endeavors they enjoyed prior to injury. Attendees can expect a fully interactive experience as walkers, including four-time Paralympian Brian Frasure, will be on hand to provide live demonstrations. The company will also conduct fittings and adjustments of the BiOM system in the booth.

Personal Bionics—Overcoming Limitations of Traditional Prosthetics

Personal Bionics emulate a specific individual’s muscle and tendon function. While traditional prosthetics only replicate bone structure, the BiOM system emulates the calf muscle and Achilles tendon to help normalize function¹. The BiOM system features Powered Plantar Flexion™, which is the push-off that enables people to walk with a natural gait and the same metabolic energy as a non-amputee.²

Because it reacts in real time to the terrain and the environment, the user does not have to wait for the device to respond. The Personal Bionic Tuning™ capabilities enable certified prosthetists to further enhance the user experience by adjusting natural movements to personal preference within normative human performance standards.

“Personal Bionics are transforming the prosthetic industry—it’s not enough to simply improve mobility any more, we now have the technology to normalize function and enable people to return to work and other important daily activities faster and with greater ease than ever before,” said Tim McCarthy, president and CEO of iWalk. “We’re only just scratching the surface with the BiOM Ankle System. Stop by our booth at AOPA to get the full Personal Bionics experience and learn more about how our products will redefine the orthotic and prosthetic fields.”

“As someone who both fits patients with and wears the BiOM Ankle System, I know that Personal Bionics are changing lives—I see it every day and truly feel it myself,” said Shawn Brown, CPO, vice president of clinical operations of SRT Prosthetics & Orthotics, an iWalk Certified Bionics Center (iCBC). Brown is himself an amputee and a two-time Paralympian. “iWalk’s incredible setup at the AOPA conference will provide a fun, compelling setting to demonstrate the power of the technology. No simple prosthetic could possibly empower me to walk a slope and play a golf ball that is lower than my feet with the confidence and capability provided by a Personal Bionic device like the BiOM system.”

Availability

The BiOM Ankle System is generally available nationwide through the iWalk Certified Bionics Center (iCBC) network as well as VA Medical Centers and the Department of Defense. For more information on the BiOM system, visit www.iwalk.com. Medical professionals and prosthetists interested in learning more about iWalk’s products and bionic certification course should visit Booth 117 at the AOPA conference or send an email to [e-mail].

About iWalk

iWalk Inc. is the pioneer and leader in personal bionic innovation. With the introduction of BiOM technology, the company has been able to embrace mobility and extend potential for people with lower-limb loss. In the future, the same underlying technology will also help people whose mobility is limited by stroke, diabetes or other conditions of disease or age.

The company was founded in 2006 by Dr. Hugh Herr, director of the Biomechatronics Group at the MIT Media Lab. Privately held and headquartered in Bedford, Mass., the company has received funding and support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) and leading venture firms WFD Ventures, General Catalyst Partners and Sigma Partners. For more information, please visit www.iwalk.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@MyBiOM).

BiOM, the BiOM logo, Personal Bionics, Powered Plantar Flexion and Personal Bionic Tuning are trademarks of iWalk Inc. All other brands may be trademarks of their respective holders.

¹ “Bionic ankle–foot prosthesis normalizes walking gait for persons with leg amputation,” Proceedings of the Royal Society, June 22, 2011

²Ibid.