NextStep Robotics
About
About NextStep Robotics
NextStep Robotics develops AMBLE, a wearable ankle robot for gait rehabilitation after stroke and other neurological injury. The device is used during walking therapy and supplies graded dorsiflexion assistance when a patient's own movement is insufficient, targeting foot drop, toe clearance and safer heel-first landing.
Adaptive control adjusts the timing and amount of help across phases of the gait cycle, while instrumented sessions give clinicians movement and progress data. AMBLE is designed for repeated clinic-based training and can be incorporated into higher-intensity walking programmes. Its development builds on University of Maryland and Veterans Affairs research, including peer-reviewed studies of ankle robotics in chronic post-stroke foot drop.
Funding
- 2020-08-03 - Bridge - $500K - NextStep Robotics closes USD 500,000 bridge round
NextStep Robotics completed a USD 500,000 bridge round to advance its AMBLE robotic rehabilitation system toward commercial launch. - source: cloudtest2.usmd.edu
Investors
- Maryland Momentum Fund - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2020-08-03
Timeline
Events
- 2025-09-29 - Regulatory - AMBLE enters the US medical-device identification database
The public device record identifies NextStep Robotics as the manufacturer of AMBLE model 0644. AMBLE is a body-worn powered exerciser intended to restore ankle function during walking. AccessGUDID lists AMBLE as prescription-only and in commercial distribution under FDA product code BXB.
Source - 2021-05-13 - Contract Award - NextStep Robotics receives NIH Phase II cooperative agreement
The Fast-Track cooperative agreement was worth USD 5.5 million across the programme. Phase II supported a planned 120-person clinical trial testing AMBLE safety and efficacy in stroke survivors with foot drop. The University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute was selected to conduct the trial.
Source - 2020-08-03 - Funding - NextStep Robotics closes USD 500,000 bridge round
The University System of Maryland Momentum Fund invested USD 250,000 in the bridge round. The Abell Foundation and University of Maryland Global Campus joined the financing. NextStep was developing AMBLE as an adaptive clinic-based therapy for foot drop following stroke.
Source
Commercial
- NextStep Robotics receives NIH Phase II cooperative agreement
2021-05-13 · Order / contract · The NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded NextStep Robotics Phase II support for a clinical trial of AMBLE.
Source