AlterG explained

AlterG, Inc.
Founder:Sean Whalen
Industry:Medical devices
Products:Treadmills, bionic legs
Num Employees:60 (2019)
Location:Fremont, California, USA

AlterG, Inc. is a medical device company that makes mobility enhancement products for physical therapy and athletic training. Its first product, the Anti-Gravity Treadmill, now has a product line that includes the M/F320, Via 400 and 400X, and Pro 200 and 500.

On August 11, 2023, ReWalk Robotics completed the purchase of AlterG for $19 million.[1] [2] Founded in 2005 by Sean Whalen in Fremont, California, the company has Charles Remsberg as its CEO.

History

Sean Whalen and his father developed the original prototype of the Anti-Gravity Treadmill in the family garage,[3] using technology developed by NASA to create a treadmill that unweights a user through "differential air pressure".[4] The Nike Oregon Project, runner and coach Alberto Salazar, the Oakland Raiders and the Golden State Warriors tested and used the prototype.

In 2007, the Washington Wizards were the first professional sports team to purchase the P200 model.[5] The following year, the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, and Phoenix Suns all purchased the P200 for their training rooms.

In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Anti-Gravity Treadmill, which at the time went by the name G-Trainer, as a medical device applicable for uses in rehabilitation.[6] Since then, the AlterG treadmill has been used for rehabilitating lower extremity injury or surgery, aerobic conditioning, weight control, gait training for neurological conditions, strengthening and conditioning the elderly.[7]

Named CEO of AlterG, Inc. in 2011, Steve Basta is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering program.[8] [9] Ten years after acquiring the Tiburon Corporation and adding the Bionic Leg to its product line,[10] AlterG was purchased in 2023 by Israeli company ReWalk Robotics Ltd.

Technology

All of AlterG's products are manufactured and assembled at the company's headquarters in Fremont, CA.[11] The company's line of Anti-Gravity Treadmills and its Bionic Leg both use patented technologies.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Differential air pressure

NASA developed the differential air pressure technique as a way for astronauts to exercise and maintain conditioning in space.

In 2012, NASA purchased the P200 model to use for pre-flight and post-flight training of International Space Station astronauts.[17] AlterG now holds a patent for this technology, which employs air pressure to adjust the users body weight on the treadmill between 20% and 100% of normal weight.[18]

A year later, AlterG was named by Fast Company as one of the top 10 most innovative companies in sports for its Anti-Gravity Treadmill.[19] [20] The company's Anti-Gravity Treadmill M320 was cleared by the FDA for use in medical facilities, hospitals, physical therapy clinics, and skilled nursing facilities - like the other models, the M320 can reduce a user's body weight by up to 80%.[21]

Launched in 2013, the Anti-Gravity Treadmill F320 is classified as a fitness product and does not meet some of the electrical interference requirements designated by some hospitals. Meanwhile, Pro Anti-Gravity Treamills are used in professional athlete training and conditioning because of their high top speed of 18 mph.[22]

Intention based therapy

Bob Horst developed the technology behind the Bionic Leg, which contains sensors and robotics that detect and provide force when a patient's weight shifts.[23] The Bionic Leg is a battery-operated external brace that uses information from foot sensors to predict the user's movements while the user walks, sits, and stands.[24]

In professional sports

The company's Anti-Gravity Treadmill is used by professional sports teams and university sports programs, including the Seattle Seahawks, Miami Heat, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Washington Wizards, Golden State Warriors, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Atlanta United FC, Texas Rangers, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Lions, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia 76ers and Hawthorn Hawks.[25] [26] [27] US Olympic Training Centers also use the Anti-Gravity Treadmill.[28] [29]

NBA players Kobe Bryant[30] [31] and LeBron James[32] and former marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe[33] use the Anti-Gravity Treadmill for physical therapy and training. Tom Brady, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, purchased two of the Anti-Gravity Treadmills.

In medicine

The company's products are used in medical centers and physical therapy clinics for various types of rehabilitation.[34] In the United States, the products are used by Johns Hopkins Medicine,[35] the Mayo Clinic,[36] University of San Francisco,[37] UNC Health Care,[38] and Stanford Medical Center.[39]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ReWalk Robotics Announces Closing of Acquisition of AlterG. GlobeNewswire. 2023-08-23. en.
  2. Web site: ReWalk completes acquisition of rival AlterG. Globes. 2023-08-23. en.
  3. News: AlterG Sweats the Details for Anti-Gravity Treadmill. San Francisco Business Times. Aug 23, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  4. Step Lightly: A Space-Age Treadmill That Reproduces Microgravity on Earth . Scientific American. Nov 10, 2010. June 3, 2014.
  5. Web site: Defying Gravity With The Alter-G Treadmill . Competitor Running. Dec 2, 2011. June 3, 2014.
  6. Web site: 510(k) Premarket Notification . United States Food & Drug Association. 2008-01-25. June 3, 2014.
  7. Web site: Anti-Gravity' Treadmills Speed Rehabilitation . NASA Spinoff. 2009. June 3, 2014.
  8. Company Overview of AlterG, Inc.. Businessweek. Aug 19, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  9. Web site: Anti-Gravity Treadmills Improve Physical Therapy. Johns Hopkins. May 12, 2014. June 10, 2014.
  10. Web site: Zero-Gravity Treadmill Maker AlterG Buys Robotic-Brace Maker Tibion . Dow Jones & Company, Inc.. Aug 23, 2013. June 9, 2014.
  11. Web site: Previous Manufacturers of the Week. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). July 10, 2013. June 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142030/http://nist.gov/mep/america-west.cfm. 2014-07-14. dead.
  12. Web site: US Patent Issued to AlterG on June 18 for "Differential Air Pressure Systems . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924204115/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2998467501.html . dead . September 24, 2015 . . June 18, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  13. Web site: WIPO Assigns Patent to AlterG for Differential Air Pressure Systems . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224131/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2192059381.html . dead . July 14, 2014 . . November 19, 2010. June 3, 2014.
  14. Web site: Intention-Based Therapy Device and Method. United States Patent and Trademark Office. March 1, 2012. June 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151616/http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week12/OG/html/1400-4/US08679040-20140325.html. 2014-07-14. dead.
  15. Web site: Differential Air Pressure Systems. United States Patent and Trademark Office. May 26, 2011. June 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140205130819/http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week25/OG/html/1391-3/US08464716-20130618.html. 2014-02-05. dead.
  16. Web site: Foot Pad Device And Method Of Obtaining Weight Data . . Aug 19, 2010 . June 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111148/http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week04/OG/html/1398-4/US08639455-20140128.html . 2014-07-14 . dead .
  17. Web site: AlterG™ Anti-Gravity Treadmill Returns To NASA . World News . 2012. June 3, 2014.
  18. Web site: Differential Air Pressure Systems. United States Patent and Trademark Office. May 29, 2014. June 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140205130819/http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week25/OG/html/1391-3/US08464716-20130618.html. 2014-02-05. dead.
  19. Most Innovative Companies 2013 – The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies In Sports . Fast Company . February 11, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  20. Web site: AlterG Recognized by Fast Company as a Most Innovative Company . SNews . February 13, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  21. News: Machines to help you take a load off . LA Times. April 5, 2010. June 9, 2014.
  22. Web site: P200 ANTI-GRAVITY TREADMILLS . SPS Fitness. June 9, 2014.
  23. Web site: AlterG Introduces Wearable Robotic Bionic Leg . AZO Robotics . August 20, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  24. Web site: I Wore a Bionic Leg, And I Never Wanted To Take It Off Again . Gizmodo. July 10, 2013. June 10, 2014.
  25. Web site: Young Hawk back to full fitness as fight for midfield spots heats up . 2023-02-02 . afl.com.au . en.
  26. Web site: Walking on the Moon . Jetset Magazine . 2014 . June 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125125/http://www.jetsetmag.com/categories/health/alter-g-moon-walk.html#.U4ye8JRdVvd . July 14, 2014 . dead .
  27. Web site: AlterG in Sports . AlterG, Inc. website. June 3, 2014.
  28. Web site: Using An Anti-Gravity Treadmill As A Recovery Tool . Competitor Running . January 24, 2011 . June 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715000530/http://triathlon.competitor.com/2011/01/training/using-an-anti-gravity-treadmill-as-a-recovery-tool_9747 . July 15, 2014 . dead .
  29. News: Alter G treadmill reduces body weight to help users with rehab . . July 23, 2012. June 3, 2014.
  30. Web site: Watch: Kobe Bryant on an AlterG Treadmill . . August 20, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  31. Web site: Kobe Bryant Running on Alter-G Treadmill . Lakers Nation . Aug 19, 2013 . June 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224004/http://lakernation.com/kobe-bryant-running-on-alter-g-treadmill/ . 2014-07-14 . dead .
  32. Web site: Lebron James Using AlterG . East Suburban Sports Medicine Center (ESSMC) . Oct 17, 2013 . June 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163622/http://essmc.com/at-cat/2119 . 2014-07-14 . dead .
  33. Web site: Paula Radcliffe: Fame & Fortune.
  34. Web site: Run Like You're on the Moon . Gizmodo. May 23, 2012 . June 10, 2014.
  35. Web site: About Us . Johns Hopkins Medicine . June 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165837/http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/physical_medicine_rehabilitation/_downloads/Ortho_Brochure.pdf . 2014-07-14 . dead .
  36. Web site: The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill: New at ESSMC . ESSMC . Oct 17, 2013. June 3, 2014.
  37. Web site: Antigravity Training Lifts UCSF Patients to New Heights of Health . UCSF . May 6, 2009. June 3, 2014.
  38. Web site: UNC Health Care. www.unchealthcare.org. 2019-11-03.
  39. Web site: Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Services . Stanford Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy . June 3, 2014.

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