The year we started Cionic, we were looking for a solution for my daughter's foot drop. As her therapist explained, she had weakness in her dorsiflexors and was unable to properly lift her foot during the swing phase of gait. It was obvious: "See how she drags her toe as she walks." They recommended Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of the dorsiflexors to assist in lifting her foot during swing.
But for some reason the stimulation didn't help...
This was right about the time when we first started testing our surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors with her walking. What I saw was wholly surprising: Sofia had a completely normative dorsiflexion firing pattern, but her calf muscle was also firing mid-swing.
We took this information back to her therapist, prompting a new discussion about the role of spasticity in her gait. It wasn't weak dorsiflexors failing to lift her foot; it was strong plantarflexors firing when they shouldn't, pushing her foot down.
To use an analogy my ballet-enthusiast daughter would approve of, it was like watching two prima ballerinas competing for the limelight, instead of working together for the sake of the masterpiece.
In that moment, it became obvious that single-muscle stimulation wasn’t the right program for Sofia. And it reinforced that mobility care isn’t just about activating one or two specific muscles; it’s about choreographing all of the major muscle groups of the leg contacting and relaxing in perfect coordination.
While Cionic technology has always supported algorithmically steered multi-muscle sequencing, our first generation Neural Sleeve only delivered stimulation for muscle activation. The insight of my daughter's spasticity set the stage for the next-generation of innovation.
Today, we are proud to introduce Cionic Neural Sleeve 2, the first FDA-cleared bionic clothing to integrate simultaneous functional muscle activation with relaxation of muscle spasms – choreographing effortless movement.
From my daughter’s experience, and from user feedback, we know that muscle spasms that come with spasticity are a mobility challenge that’s been neglected for too long. The data makes it clear: Spasticity presents in up to 97% of stroke survivors with moderate to severe motor deficits, contributes to disability in up to 84% of people with multiple sclerosis, and is present in 80% of individuals with cerebral palsy .
The Neural Sleeve 2 aims to address these spasms by adding continuous sensory stimulation to the triggered functional stimulation of our first generation sleeve. The feedback has been incredibly exciting. In our home spasticity trial, participants wore the sleeve for 6 weeks during their daily activities. They rated their experience before and after use, and reported an average improvement of 30% across six different aspects of spasticity.
As one of the study participants shared: "The Neural Sleeve 2 pretty much eliminates spasticity when I'm wearing it. And with the sleeve on, my gait is so much better. I used to walk and have to take a break, and now I can just walk.”
In order to make this happen, we had to invent an entirely new stimulation paradigm that we call MultiStim.
Our novel MultiStim system interleaves multiple stimulation pulse trains into a single integrated stimulation pattern. As a result, it provides continuous sensory stimulation to spastic muscles and triggered functional stimulation to weak and poorly controlled muscles.
This algorithmically controlled stimulation adapts to speeds and terrains, as well as levels of muscle spasms. It is also the only system FDA-cleared to provide support to five primary muscle movements of gait: ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, and eversion, along with knee flexion and extension.
And the innovation doesn't stop at the technology.
From the beginning, our goal has been to design an experience that puts users first. The Neural Sleeve 2 continues that commitment. Like our first sleeve, it was developed in partnership with world-class design agency fuseproject, and features a “bionic clothing” form factor that’s as comfortable and discreet as athletic wear. The new design enhances flexibility and comfort for a better all-day experience, and makes it easier to put on and take off.
From the materials and sensors, to the software and algorithms, every part of Cionic Neural Sleeve 2 represents a leap forward in mobility care. And we did it all at a pace unmatched in the medical device industry, launching our second generation Neural Sleeve just two years after the original.
Mobility deserves continuous investment in innovation, and we are just getting started.
We’ve always believed that by bringing together advanced technology, clinical insights, and human-centered design, we could build a world of super-powered movement for all. The Neural Sleeve 2 is proof that this world is coming into view. We’re grateful to our users and partners – across clinical, advocacy, and research communities – for building this world with us. Every step, every study, every partnership creates momentum and intelligence that drives our mission forward.
We’ve already come so far together, and we know the next steps will unlock even more possibility.
Learn more about our FDA-cleared Cionic Neural Sleeve 2, and how it superpowers movement.