Japan's health ministry 25 will formally approved "robot" and "mixed auxiliary limbs" for medical use (HAL) as a medical equipment sales in Japan, used to improve muscle atrophy in patients with diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy walking function. This is the first time the Japanese government has approved the wearable robot as medical apparatus and instruments, the future will also examine whether to be included in the scope of applicable insurance.

"Robot" and "mixed auxiliary limbs" for medical use is to be able to read human neural signals of wearable robot, also known as "smart exoskeleton", by jia, a professor at the university of tsukuba mountain of 1996 research and development. In June 2004, and the fine set up the risk of the enterprise dedicated to the research and development, manufacture and distribution of such a robot.

Normal movement is one of the instructions issued by the brain, nervous system conduction current signal, drive muscle contraction or relaxation, but muscle atrophy patients with diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscle atrophy, after accepting neural electric signals can't complete the movement.

"Robot" and "medical use hybrid auxiliary limbs" device, such as used on the thigh and knee sensor to read the neural electric signals from the people who want to exercise, using the built-in computer manipulation of the joints of motor help movement, also can simulate "to go" this kind of feeling of nerve current feedback signal transfer back to the brain, helping to restore the walking function of human body. This is actually use the motor instead of the patients has been shrinking muscles.

On November 10, Japan's health ministry expert meeting recommendations will be such robots as medical apparatus and instruments, used in the treatment of muscle strength recession or the incurable diseases such as muscle atrophy, the proposal formally approved by the ministry of health, Labour and welfare on the 25th.