Myomo :: Wearable Robotic Orthoses That Help Users Move Their Own Impaired Upper Limbs

Myomo is a medical robotics company focused on restoring arm and hand function for people living with neuromuscular weakness or paralysis. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Myomo develops and commercializes wearable robotic orthoses that help users move their own impaired upper limbs. The company’s work sits at the intersection of robotics, rehabilitation medicine, orthotics, prosthetics, and assistive technology. Rather than building industrial robots or general-purpose humanoid machines, Myomo specializes in human-assistive robotics: powered braces that read the user’s biological intent and convert it into functional movement.

The company’s flagship robot-based product is the MyoPro, a custom-fitted, powered arm and hand brace. MyoPro is designed for individuals who have lost partial movement in an arm or hand because of conditions such as stroke, brachial plexus injury, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or other neuromuscular disorders. The system is non-invasive and does not require surgery or implanted devices. Instead, it uses small sensors placed on the surface of the skin to detect faint electromyographic signals from the user’s muscles. When the user attempts to move, the MyoPro’s onboard electronics interpret those muscle signals and activate motors that assist the elbow, wrist, hand, or fingers, depending on the model and configuration.

What makes MyoPro especially important as a robotic product is that it does not simply move the limb automatically on a preset cycle. It is intention-driven. The user initiates the movement, and the robotic brace amplifies that effort. This allows the wearer to perform daily tasks such as lifting a cup, bringing food to the mouth, opening and closing the hand, carrying objects, using a phone, or supporting the arm during household and workplace activities. The product is custom fabricated for each patient, and Myomo works with clinicians, orthotists, therapists, and insurance providers to evaluate candidates, fit the device, and support training.

The MyoPro product family includes powered configurations for elbow flexion and extension, hand opening and closing, and other upper-extremity support functions. These systems are intended to improve independence and quality of life for users who may otherwise have limited use of an affected arm. The device can be used at home, in the community, and during certain therapy-related activities, helping bridge the gap between clinical rehabilitation and practical everyday function.

Myomo also operates a patient-access model that includes screening, clinical evaluation, insurance authorization support, custom measurement, fabrication, fitting, and user training. This is important because robotic medical devices are not simple off-the-shelf products; they require precise fitting, medical justification, and long-term support. The company has worked to expand reimbursement pathways through Medicare, Veterans Affairs, workers’ compensation, and private insurers, making the technology more accessible to eligible patients.

Overall, Myomo is a highly specialized robotics company using wearable, myoelectric technology to address a major medical need: helping people regain functional use of weakened or paralyzed arms. Its products are best understood as powered robotic orthoses that combine human intent, sensor technology, motorized assistance, and custom clinical fitting into a practical assistive device for everyday life.