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CNN Live At Daybreak
Stair-Climbing Wheelchair Gets FDA Approval
Aired August 14, 2003 - 06:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now it's time to get a little more business buzz. Wheelchair bound people will soon be able to attack a major obstacle.
Let's get details on the freewheeling wheelchair from Carrie Lee at the Nasdaq market site.
OK, I'm curious, Carrie, what is it?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It's a fascinating new product, Carol. There are an estimated two million wheelchair users in the United States and soon they are going to be able to do things like climb stairs, go on grassy hills and gravel roads and even reach high shelves in the supermarket. Now this is because the FDA has approved a new wheelchair called the iBOT. It uses sensors and gyroscopes to navigate stairs while balancing on two wheels.
Here's a look at it. You can sort of get the idea from the picture. It also allows users to elevate the seat. In fact, it's so complicated it's going to require a doctor's prescription and special training to drive. People will need to have the use of at least one arm to manage the controls, then they lean forward or backward and that sort of gives the iBOT the direction in which it is to go.
Now if this sounds a bit familiar, well the iBOT was created by Dean Kamen. He is also the man behind the Segway scooter, which uses similar principles. The price tag for the iBOT, about $29,000. So it is very high tech, it is very expensive.
J&J is the company behind it. It's made by a J&J subsidiary. And, Carol, J&J is talking with Medicare and some other insurers, not known yet though whether they will pick up part of that price tag, but certainly something that can make people's lives better with this.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: I know, but $29,000, not many wheelchair-bound people can afford that. And the insurance companies, who knows what they will do.
LEE: Well, we'll see. Hopefully they'll see it. But you know there are some other very high tech systems out there that actually cost a little bit more, so hopefully the insurance companies will pick up part of the tab.
COSTELLO: We hope so. Carrie Lee, many thanks, live from New York this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 14, 2003 - 06:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now it's time to get a little more business buzz. Wheelchair bound people will soon be able to attack a major obstacle.
Let's get details on the freewheeling wheelchair from Carrie Lee at the Nasdaq market site.
OK, I'm curious, Carrie, what is it?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It's a fascinating new product, Carol. There are an estimated two million wheelchair users in the United States and soon they are going to be able to do things like climb stairs, go on grassy hills and gravel roads and even reach high shelves in the supermarket. Now this is because the FDA has approved a new wheelchair called the iBOT. It uses sensors and gyroscopes to navigate stairs while balancing on two wheels.
Here's a look at it. You can sort of get the idea from the picture. It also allows users to elevate the seat. In fact, it's so complicated it's going to require a doctor's prescription and special training to drive. People will need to have the use of at least one arm to manage the controls, then they lean forward or backward and that sort of gives the iBOT the direction in which it is to go.
Now if this sounds a bit familiar, well the iBOT was created by Dean Kamen. He is also the man behind the Segway scooter, which uses similar principles. The price tag for the iBOT, about $29,000. So it is very high tech, it is very expensive.
J&J is the company behind it. It's made by a J&J subsidiary. And, Carol, J&J is talking with Medicare and some other insurers, not known yet though whether they will pick up part of that price tag, but certainly something that can make people's lives better with this.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: I know, but $29,000, not many wheelchair-bound people can afford that. And the insurance companies, who knows what they will do.
LEE: Well, we'll see. Hopefully they'll see it. But you know there are some other very high tech systems out there that actually cost a little bit more, so hopefully the insurance companies will pick up part of the tab.
COSTELLO: We hope so. Carrie Lee, many thanks, live from New York this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
