【News】Application to Germany’s Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) was submitted for public health insurance coverage of the treatment with HAL® for Medical Use ~a step toward the world’s first robotic medical treatment covered by public health insurance~

CYBERDYNE Inc. (the “Company”)’s partner research institution Bergmannsheil University Hospital submitted an application to Germany’s Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (“InEK”) for deliberation on a new treatment method to improve physical function using HAL® for Medical Use as well as its medical fees on October 27th, 2015. If the new treatment method gets approved, national health insurance can be applied for paraplegic patients at acute clinics that have already implemented HAL® for Medical Use.

There has never been a case where robotic therapy received national health insurance coverage, and this novel therapeutic method is taking great strides toward becoming the world’s first robotic medical treatment to achieve that goal. This therapy is already covered by the public worker’s compensation insurance system, and the Company is working to expand accessibility of Robot Suit HAL®’ to all patients.

* The treatment described in the application for public health insurance coverage is known as the Intrinsic Neuromuscular Feedback Therapy with both Intention-based Bio-electric and Robotic Control, and is a new therapeutic method for the treatment of paraplegic patients who show at least weak residual neuronal impulses in the muscles of their lower extremities. The treatment helps to restore the interactive biofeedback loop between the brain’s command to move and the various sensory signals received from the resulting movement, thus reactivating the response of the skeletal muscles to signals from the brain. Patients partially regain their ability to walk and exhibit significant improvements in their mobility and ability to live without assistance.

Reference:
This achievement was made possible by the HAL® Demonstration Project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/whatsnew_20131025.html