AI-Powered Knee Sleeve Deploys Micro-Airbag to Prevent ACL Injuries

Hippos Exoskeleton, a human-performance technology startup, has announced a breakthrough that could radically reduce ACL and orthopedic injuries through a soft, intuitive AI-driven smart knee sleeve that deploys a micro-airbag to stabilize the knee in under 50 milliseconds. The company recently tested their latest prototype at Cleveland Clinic's BioRobotics Center, one of the world's most respected biomechanics labs, using a simVITRO robotic knee simulator across the most dangerous injury conditions.

The revolutionary sleeve represents the first textile-based system designed to reduce the combined forces that cause ligament rupture. Testing results showed valgus rotation reduced by approximately 11%, anterior tibial translation reduced by about 9%, and internal rotation reduced by roughly 21%, with airbag deployment occurring within 50 milliseconds - well inside the ACL injury window. The technology is on track to become the first wearable ultra-light smart knee sleeve to predict and prevent injury in real time.

Hippos 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 rapidly 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 Hippos has developed an intuitive protective knee sleeve that could reshape how we think about sports safety, potentially marking the first real breakthrough in decreasing ACL injuries in a generation.

The system resembles premium athletic apparel until the moment it becomes a soft exoskeleton, addressing a critical need across multiple sectors. ACL tears strike in milliseconds, destroying mobility for people of any age or fitness level and affecting careers in professional sports, college and Olympic athletics, and military service. 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 ultralight AI knee sleeve airbag system represents a groundbreaking leap in protecting military personnel, potentially saving joints, careers, and keeping armed forces in the field.

Hippos is preparing large-scale trials with elite athletic programs and U.S. military units, with the company moving into developing a full ecosystem of soft exoskeletons for the hips, ankles, shoulders, and spine using intelligent fabrics that act as a second layer of protection for the human body. More information about the technology can be found at https://www.hippos.life.