Medical Design Briefs - January 2022 - 24

TECHNOLOGY LEADERS Electrical Connectors/Wires/Cables
beginning and together we have developed
solutions for our needs, " says
Vouga.
The connectors establish the interconnection
between the hand control
and the back section. The commands
that the user enters via the hand control
are transmitted to the control center in
the back section. From there, they are
transmitted via other connectors to the
knee or hip joints and the electric
motors inside, and the walking movement
is triggered.
For this application, Fischer recommended
its LP360, part of the Fischer
Freedom™ series, which are low profile,
easy to mate, and fully cleanable. Since
the exoskeleton is primarily used outdoors,
the connectors must also withstand
the elements. To ensure this, a
membrane safely protects the contacts
from contamination and moisture in
accordance with protection class IP68.
At the same time, it enables easy cleaning.
Also, the handling is very userfriendly.
Due to the lack of coding, the
connectors have an uncomplicated 360˚
plug-in option. Thanks to ideal cable
management, everything stays
in its
place and the user does not run the risk
of getting tangled in the cables. The
blind-mate 360˚ locking makes any
incorrect operation impossible and the
plugging process intuitive.
The connectors are also sealed
according
to
IP68. The connectors
made of chrome-plated aluminum also
excel with their low weight - they are
about 50 percent lighter than comparable
products made of brass. This makes
them ideal for mobile applications.
Since the connectors can be manufactured
in any size and housing shape, it
At the 2020 edition, the TWIICE team and athlete Silke Pan won the silver medal in the Powered Exoskeleton
Race (EXO) discipline. (Credit: TWIICE)
was possible to adapt them precisely to
TWIICE's needs.
Second Place in the Cybathlon
TWIICE's technology, which has
proven itself in the field, was also able to
convince in a sporting competition. The
ETH Zurich Cybathlon is a competition
for people with disabilities who, supported
by state-of-the-art technical assistance
systems, compete against each other in
solving tasks relevant to everyday life.
Beyond the competition, the Cybathlon
offers a platform to advance research in
the field of assistance systems suitable
for everyday use. At the 2020 edition, the
TWIICE team and athlete Silke Pan won
the silver medal in the Powered
Exoskeleton Race (EXO) discipline.
The participants in this race have to
complete a course as quickly as possible
while wearing an exoskeleton. In doing
so, they have to master everyday activities
such as climbing up and down stairs,
opening, passing through and then closing
a door, or overcoming obstacles
fixed to the ground.
Quality of Life Through Independence
Walking independently again, climbing
stairs, or going ski touring. For most
people living with paraplegia, this is an
enormous gain in quality of life. This is
possible thanks to the TWIICE exoskeleton.
And the application possibilities are
not fully exhausted yet.
" Our team is continuously working on
new modifications to be able to offer
people even more possibilities, "
says
Vouga. An important part of the
exoskeleton are the connectors from
Fischer Connectors. " We are proud that
our connectors contribute to such an
The Fischer LP360 is a low-profile, easy-to-mate, and fully cleanable connector. (Credit: Fischer Connectors)
24
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exciting and important innovation as
the TWIICE exoskeleton. Our products
help save people's lives in many applications,
and now they are also helping to
improve the quality of life of paraplegics.
That is really something special, "
says Martin Wimmers, CEO of
Fischer Connectors GmbH.
This article was written by David Ptatek,
National Sales Director, Fischer Connectors,
Alpharetta, GA. For more information on
TWIICE, visit www.twiice.ch. For more in -
formation on Fischer Connectors, visit
http://info.hotims.com/82317-343.
Medical Design Briefs, January 2022

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Medical Design Briefs - January 2022

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