The first-ever trial of these high-tech trousers has been conducted in the UK.

Julie Lloyd, a 65-year-old stroke survivor, is making strides towards regaining her ability to walk independently, all thanks to a cutting-edge AI-powered garment. She is a participant in the pioneering trial of the “smart garment” known as “NeuroSkin,” which employs AI-controlled electrodes to stimulate her paralyzed leg.

This innovative technology, hailed as a breakthrough for fellow stroke patients, is being trialed for the first time in the UK. While the NeuroSkin technology has already been transforming stroke care in France, Ms. Lloyd is among the inaugural participants in the UK trial.

Ms. Lloyd’s experience with the NeuroSkin trousers has been transformational. She describes the sensation as if her leg is being guided, and after initial discomfort, she was able to walk unaided within minutes, marking her first unassisted steps in six months.

These successful strides hold immense significance, as her stroke earlier this year had left her left arm and leg partially paralyzed, prompting her reliance on a cane.

NeuroSkin operates by leveraging artificial intelligence to control electrodes embedded in wired trousers and shoes. These electrodes interact with key muscle groups in each leg, replicating impulses from her healthy leg to her weakened one, effectively recreating a natural walking motion. While the technology’s current cost of approximately £5,000 per month for leasing limits its widespread application, its potential impact on stroke survivors’ rehabilitation and quality of life is undeniable.

According to The Stroke Association, these novel technologies offer renewed hope to the 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK.

While the road from laboratory innovation to clinical implementation can be lengthy, experts believe that NeuroSkin’s potential signals an imminent paradigm shift in stroke treatment and rehabilitation.

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Images Credit: Morrello Clinic and Kurage