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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Phoenix is a powered lower-limb exoskeleton designed to help some people with spinal cord injury stand, walk and perform transitional movements with supervision. A 2021 study found that 40 adults with injuries from T4 to L5 completed a supervised training and assessment protocol using the device. That is evidence of device-assisted mobility in a specific study group—not a cure, proof of neurological recovery, or a promise that every person with paralysis can walk independently.
What the Phoenix is—and how it moves
Developed by US Bionics, doing business as SuitX, the Phoenix is a wearable medical exoskeleton for the lower limbs. It combines powered hip joints with a semi-passive knee design: the device controls when the knees lock and unlock, while the hip actuators drive movement. Adjustable thigh and shin links connect to foot plates fitted inside the wearer’s shoes.
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The device also has a torso module and rechargeable batteries. In the 2021 study’s description, it weighed 15 kg including batteries. A practitioner can set gait parameters on a tablet, and the wearer sends commands using a handheld, two-button controller. The controller can be mounted on a crutch, walker or parallel-bar rail during training; the study does not establish that one particular consumer support is required or that any retail model is approved for use with Phoenix. The study’s device and protocol description provides further detail.
What the clinical study found
Koljonen and colleagues reported a multicenter, open-label, prospective study in Frontiers in Neurology in 2021. Forty adults with spinal cord injury at neurological levels T4–L5 completed 20 supervised one-hour sessions. Researchers assessed walking and mobility using measures that included the 10-meter walk test, 6-minute walk test and Timed Up and Go.
#1 Best Overall
- Walking Support: Supports natural walking, eases knee and ankle pressure, boosts balance, gravity-powered pendulum system enables seamless, battery-free gait with energy-saving support
- Lightweight Comfort: Made of PC, aluminum blended metal chassis and Velcro, lightweight (≈2 lb), comfortable to wear without extra bulk
- Wide Suit Range: Accommodates users 57–71 inches tall, daily commuters, and casual hikers needing walking assistance
- Easy Application: Resize the structure length first, then secure with waist and knee straps, walk normally to get natural support via the pendulum system
- All-In-One Kit: Includes the main walker, fixing straps, knee straps, and adjustment parts, ready to use without additional accessories
All participants achieved Functional Independence Measure scores above 4 for transitional movements and walking during the protocol, and the authors reported no serious adverse events. These results describe performance while using the device in a supervised program. They do not show that participants recovered lost nerve function or can walk without the exoskeleton, trained staff or other support.
Results varied with injury characteristics
The study found that neurological injury level was associated with walking speed and functional outcomes. Participants with incomplete injuries had higher Functional Independence Measure scores, faster walking speeds and higher WISCI-II scores across measures than participants with complete injuries. The findings therefore should not be read as a single expected outcome for everyone with spinal cord injury.
Who was studied
Eligibility was limited to adults weighing no more than 200 pounds, with healthy skin where the device contacted the body and the ability to stand using a device such as a standing frame. The study excluded medical conditions that made exoskeleton use unsafe, as well as certain symptoms associated with standing. These criteria describe that study’s participants; they are not a substitute for an individual clinical assessment.
Funding and disclosures
US Bionics partly supported the study and provided the Phoenix devices. The authors disclosed that some held intellectual property and patents related to the device. Those disclosures are relevant context when weighing the findings, alongside the study’s design and reported outcomes.
FDA status is not a guarantee of suitability
The FDA’s K183152 record identifies Phoenix and lists US Bionics, Inc. (doing business as SuitX) as the applicant. It records a “Substantially Equivalent (SESE)” 510(k) decision dated April 17, 2019. The FDA’s classification information describes powered exoskeletons for medical purposes as prescription devices. A 510(k) substantial-equivalence decision is a regulatory determination; it does not establish that the device is a cure, or that it is safe or suitable for a particular person.
Sources: FDA record K183152 and the FDA powered-exoskeleton classification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Phoenix still $40,000—and can you buy one?
WIRED reported a $40,000 price in 2016. That is a historical reported figure, not a current quote. The current SUITX public-facing page emphasizes industrial exoskeletons and does not establish whether Phoenix is still sold, supported or available to new users. A buyer would need confirmation of current availability, service and price directly from the company or a qualified medical-device supplier.
Sources: WIRED’s 2016 report and the current SUITX public site.
What to take from the “walk again” claim
Phoenix enabled supervised, device-assisted walking and transitional-task performance in the adults who completed the study protocol. The evidence does not support the broader promise that the exoskeleton lets all paralyzed people walk again: the study covered a limited group with specific eligibility criteria, included supervised training, and found outcomes associated with injury characteristics. Nor does using the device demonstrate neurological recovery. For an individual, suitability and likely benefit require assessment by qualified clinicians familiar with powered exoskeletons.
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