The bionic woman is one step closer, quiet literally. LOPES, the therapeutic robot leg system is helping stroke victims to walk again.
Scientists at the University of Twente over in the Netherlands hope that LOPES, the Lower-extremity Powered ExoSkeleton, will remind the body and mind just what it was like to walk.
Spinal injury patients who have recovered some movement in their legs will also be candidates for the robot legs.
Lopes works by lifting the legs of the patient in a walking motion, and can be targeted to particular legs or injuries.
Edwin van Asseldonk, assistant professor at the university said: "For walking it's very important to maintain balance, and to maintain that, it's about placing your foot in the right place. By making this movement possible in this device, it's also possible to train balance control while walking."
Outside of the laboratory, it's hoped that patients everywhere will be able to use LOPES at rehabilitation centres worldwide as soon as 2012.