Walk in New York opens to aid access to advanced mobility devices
Wandercraft's Atalante X exoskeleton may help MS patients improve gait
Wandercraft has launched Walk in New York, a new rehabilitation center that offers access to its advanced mobility devices for people with severe walking impairments, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The center provides sessions with neurological rehabilitation therapists and walking sessions with its robotic exoskeleton, Atalante X, along with other therapeutic tools. As Wandercraft seeks to bring its personal exoskeleton to market, this center may also serve as the hub where people can receive their devices, learn to use them, and access continuous support.
The device has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in rehabilitation for people recovering from stroke, and for those with spinal cord injuries affecting the vertebrae that control movement in the hips and legs.
“Walk in New York is a space where innovation meets the real world. The team now has the powerful opportunity to work alongside our users, meet their families, hear their stories, and become an active participant in their mobility journey inside and outside of the device,” Matthieu Masselin, CEO of Wandercraft, said in a company press release.
MS is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. This can lead to a range of symptoms including muscle weakness, spasticity, poor coordination, balance problems, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, a person’s ability to walk, stand, or perform daily physical activities can become significantly impaired, sometimes leading to partial or complete loss of mobility.
Aiding gait, balance in MS
Atalante X is a hands-free walking exoskeleton designed for people with severe gait impairments, including those with limited arm function or cognitive challenges that affect their ability to stand and walk unaided. Its self-balancing technology enables users to remain upright without using their hands, supporting full-body rehabilitation by allowing simultaneous exercises for the arms, legs, posture, and balance.
To guide users through their first steps with the exoskeleton, the device contains EarlyGait, a small step-length gait pattern that lets patients adapt to the device and progress to a more realistic walking pattern. This intensity can be gradually reduced as the patient recovers. Treatment can also be orientated according to each person’s body type and abilities, allowing new possibilities to move in space.
Therapists can use the WanderTouch interface for configuring and monitoring a person’s rehabilitation and progression.
Walk in New York offers other rehabilitation technologies, including Intensive Virtual Stimulation by Dessintey, a technology that’s dedicated to promoting brain plasticity and help patients relearn motor function by visualizing healthy limb movements. Virtual Reality Treadmill, by ezyGain, also provides real-time movement feedback, through interactive games and immersive virtual environments.
The center’s opening featured remarks from leaders in the public and private sector, including Commissioner Christina Curry from the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “By placing this center in the heart of New York City, Wandercraft is showing that accessibility isn’t an afterthought, it’s foundational. This is about applying truly innovative technology to tackle systemic barriers and expand opportunities for people with mobility disabilities to live with dignity,” Curry said.
New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams sent an official certificate of recognition to honor Wandercraft’s role in expanding access to robotics, virtual reality, and visual simulation therapies for people with neurological conditions. “I applaud this groundbreaking enterprise for its efforts to forge a brighter, healthier, more mobile future for all,” Adams said.
Wandercraft this year also launched a clinical trial (NCT06777576) to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Atalante X at improving standing, walking, bending, and reaching, along with restoring a more natural walking sensation in spinal cord injuries.
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