Innovative Neurotronics, a Subsidiary of Hanger Orthopedic Group, Earns the 2007 da Vinci Award for the WalkA...( Launched in May 2006 the WalkAide Sys...)

Launched in May 2006, the WalkAide System employs functional electrical stimulation to treat a form of paralysis known as "foot drop" due to multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and cerebral palsy. By using a patented sensor technology called an accelerometer and transmitting data through a Bluetooth connection, the WalkAide sends low level electrical signals directly to a motor nerve in the leg, stimulating the muscles to raise the patient's foot at the appropriate time in the gait cycle. The AA battery-operated device does not require surgery, external wires, or shoes.

A study published in the September 2006 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair suggests the WalkAide can reveal hidden potential for additional patient recovery and mobility. The walking speed of patients wearing the WalkAide increased by 15% after three months. With continued usage, patients' walking speed increased by 32% after six months and by nearly 50% after twelve months. The study also showed the number of steps taken per day by WalkAide users increased significantly over the year.

About Hanger: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc., headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is the world's premier provider of orthotic and prosthetic patient care services. Hanger is the market leader in the United States, owning and operating 621 patient care centers in 45 states and the District of Columbia, with 3,502 employees including 1,029 practitioners (as of 6/30/07). Hanger is organized into four units. The two key operating units are patient care which consists of nationwide orthotic and prosthetic practice centers and distribution which consists of distribution centers managing the supply chain of orthotic and prosthetic componentry to Hanger and third party patient care centers. The third is Linkia which is the first and only provider network management company for the orthotics and prosthetics industry. The fourth unit, In
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