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When Kevin Maher came up with a device to make his daughter's physical therapy sessions easier, he had no idea his invention would have military applications.
A semiconductor consultant, Maher created what's now known as the Vestimumax, a machine that turns, twirls and shifts its' occupant in two directions, so he or she can spin horizontally and vertically at the same time.
The medical device uses include treatment for cerebral palsy-related symptoms -- problems with inner-ear balance and torso strength for sitting, crawling and standing.
The military is interested in using the device for training new pilots, de-sensitizing them to the fast movement of aircraft that can frequently cause motion sickness.
The Vestimumax derives its name from physical therapy applications, vestibular, or balance, stimulation exercises.
During 2002, Maher's daughter, Meckenzie, needed more than 480 repetitions of different exercises to increase her ability to move.
"I'm an engineer," Maher said. "And I thought there had to be an easier way to do these exercises. They were killing me -- and they were hurting Meckenzie."
It turns out, there was -- it just hadn't been invented yet.
Not only did Maher's machine make it easier for her to perform the necessary exercises, it quickly improved her mobility.
The first machines were "crude," Maher said, and took about seven months to develop and refine. But the work paid off, and the results were immediately noticeable.
"She didn't fall as much," Maher said. "Within two weeks, you could see a difference. She was crawling, and...