Hippos Exoskeleton's AI-Powered Knee Sleeve Shows Promise in Preventing ACL Injuries

Hippos Exoskeleton, a human-performance technology startup, has announced a breakthrough in knee injury prevention with an AI-driven ultra-light smart knee sleeve that deploys a micro-airbag to stabilize the knee in under 50 milliseconds. The technology represents a significant advancement in protective sports equipment and could radically reduce ACL and orthopedic injuries across multiple sectors.

Recent testing at Cleveland Clinic's BioRobotics Center, one of the world's most respected biomechanics labs, demonstrated the sleeve's effectiveness using a simVITRO robotic knee simulator. The results showed valgus rotation reduced by approximately 11%, anterior tibial translation reduced by about 9%, and internal rotation reduced by roughly 21%. Most critically, the airbag deployment occurs within 50 milliseconds, falling inside the ACL injury window and potentially preventing ligament failure before it happens.

The revolutionary sleeve integrates three proprietary technologies never before combined in a single garment: an on-device AI biomechanical engine analyzing joint angles and torque hundreds of times per second, an ultra-fast micro-airbag actuator that deploys in 30-50 milliseconds, and intelligent textiles embedding sensors, circuitry, and airbags into a 200g ultra-light smart knee sleeve. Dr. Paul Saluan noted that if early results continue, this may mark the first real breakthrough in decreasing ACL injuries in a generation.

The implications extend beyond professional sports to military applications and general fitness. In the U.S. military alone, 800,000 service members suffer musculoskeletal injuries annually, costing more than $3.7 billion and slowing unit readiness. Retired III Armored Corps Surgeon Col Jason S. Wieman stated that the Hippos system represents a groundbreaking leap in protecting military personnel, potentially saving joints, careers, and keeping armed forces in the field.

The technology originated from cofounder Kylin Shaw's personal experience tearing his ACL at 17, just days before his Division-1 basketball trial. That career-ending injury led him to software engineering and eventually entrepreneurship, with the airbag deployment during a car accident providing the inspiration for Hippos. Shaw teamed with Bhavy Metakar, a UK-based engineer who previously worked in defense systems, to build their vision of preventing catastrophic injuries.

Hippos is preparing large-scale trials with elite athletic programs and U.S. military units, positioning the technology as closer to premium athletic apparel than traditional bulky knee braces. The company describes it as Lululemon meets crash-airbag technology powered by AI. Looking forward, Hippos is developing a full ecosystem of soft exoskeletons for hips, ankles, shoulders, and spine using intelligent fabrics that act as a second layer of protection for the human body. More information about the company's technology and mission is available at https://www.hippos.life.