Zeus KAFO brace aims to support mobility in CMT, other conditions
Device worn around leg can unload up to 60 pounds of body weight from knee
The Zeus KAFO, a new device from Icarus Medical Innovations, aims to support mobility in people with lower limb weakness, instability, or paralysis due to conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).
The Zeus device is a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO), meaning it’s worn from the foot up to about mid-thigh to support the lower leg. According to Icarus, the brace can unload up to 60 pounds of body weight from the knee, making it easier for patients with leg weakness to get around.
The Zeus KAFO “is the first device to offer this unique mechanism, allowing for patient-adjustable dynamic support in both the knee and ankle to meet the patient’s specific activity and lifestyle,” Icarus stated in a press release.
Zeus KAFO brace can be customized based on individual needs
CMT is a genetic disorder marked by damage to peripheral nerves, or those that control movement and sensation in the body’s limbs and extremities. This leads to symptoms including difficulty walking due to weakness and loss of muscle bulk in the lower limbs.
The Zeus KAFO device provides support at both the ankle and knee to make walking easier. The device is designed in a way that enables patients to use dials to adjust the amount of support at each joint, allowing them to fine-tune the device based on factors such as their current level of fatigue and mobility goals.
According to Icarus, the device’s modular frame is designed to allow patients and clinicians to customize it based on individual needs. The part attached to the knee and the part attached to the foot/ankle each can be put on and taken off separately without the need for specialized tools. The device also is designed to be form-fitting and lightweight, with most models clocking in at less than 2 pounds in weight.
The creation of each Zeus KAFO system is personalized based on the individual. First, Icarus’ mobile scanning app is used to create a three-dimensional scan of the patient’s leg. An engineer then uses this scan to design the system, which is 3D-printed and assembled by hand at Icarus’ headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia. According to the company, it usually takes about two to three weeks from scan to delivery, depending on the degree of customization.
In addition to CMT, the Zeus KAFO system is also intended for patients with other conditions that can cause lower limb weakness, instability, or paralysis, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy.
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