A North Texas hospital is testing robotic exoskeleton technology on a new group of patients recovering from major surgery. Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas has launched what it says is the nation’s first clinical trial evaluating robotic exoskeletons as part of early mobility after he art and lung procedures. The study, known as the REACT trial — Robotic Exoskeletons for Acute Care Therapy — is examining whether the devices can help critically ill cardiovascular and thoracic surgery patients walk earlier and more often than with traditional methods. The technology was originally developed to help patients with spinal cord injuries, but researchers are now studying its potential in a new clinical setting. Melissa Mira, a wife and mother of two, is among the first patients enrolled in the trial. After undergoing a heart transplant, she used the exoskeleton during her hospital recovery to regain movement. “It was a dramatic feeling that I felt to sit up like that. I mean, I got to hug Gabe for the first time standing up. I cried,” Mira said. Dr. Dan M. Meyer, chief of cardiac transplantation and advanced cardiac circulatory support at Baylor University Medical Center and the trial’s principal investigator, said the research could change how patients recover after surgery. “This research represents a unique intersection of robotics, critical care, and rehabilitation,” Meyer said. “Our goal is to enhance recovery and set a new standard for early mobility after major surgeries.” Researchers said the study could lead to changes in surgical recovery practices if the results are successful. ...read more read less