New Technology Helps Oklahoma Patients Walk Again

Hovannah Johnson, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- New technology in Oklahoma is helping some patients walk again. The device is called the Bioness. It's designed for people who have been diagnosed with debilitating diseases.

While Robin Brown waited to board a flight with her family to Hawaii, she dozed off and woke up a different woman. "My leg started dragging, my speech went slurred and my arm went numb," Brown said.

After a few minutes, the 37-year-old quickly realized the nap didn't cause the left side of her body to go to sleep: a stroke did. Now four years later, she is recovering. One of the core building blocks of her recovery is a new technology, a wireless device she wears on her leg.

"It's basically shocking me. Shocking my muscle and it transmits from my foot to send the signal to my brain," Brown said.

Without it, Robin's hand automatically closes into a fist and she drags her foot

"When we get to see people come in and they are dragging their foot and are not able to do anything,( well) when those guys can leave here and they are not tripping up they start crying. We love that," said Dr. Gary Birks of OrthoCare in Norman.

The Bioness also works well for patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or for someone who has suffered traumatic brain injury.