INOMER

What INOMER does

INOMER Co., Ltd. (株式会社INOMER) is a Nara, Japan-based wearable robotics company founded in April 2024 by CEO Norifumi Katsura. The company develops the inoGear HE-1, a non-exoskeleton robotic gait rehabilitation device that uses a proprietary wire actuator mechanism to apply targeted force to the pelvis and hip joint area without fixing joint axes. The device is designed to structurally replicate the manual handling techniques that physical therapists use to assist hip joint extension during the stance phase of walking, with the goal of making gait rehabilitation assistance reproducible across therapists of varying skill levels. The hardware weighs 1.5 kg including battery, with a 7 kgf maximum wire tension and button-operated timing adjustment.

The company's go-to-market centers on direct field sales to rehabilitation hospitals, clinics, and physical therapy centers in Japan, currently executed through a monitor facility program in which partner sites (including Kyoto Ohara Memorial Hospital, Takai Hospital, the Brain Infarction Intensive Rehabilitation Center, Higashisumiyoshi Morimoto Rehabilitation Hospital, Miroku Neurosurgery Rehabilitation Clinic, and Nasse Body Works) conduct pilot evaluations. Marketing relies on academic and medical conference exhibitions, PR TIMES press releases, startup competition participation, and selective media appearances.

INOMER is pre-revenue. The inoGear HE-1 is a prototype without medical device approval, and pricing has not been publicly disclosed. Revenue, once commercialized, is anticipated to flow from hardware sales to rehabilitation facilities. The company has secured non-dilutive capital through grants and awards, including the 22nd Innovation R&D Grant (Ikeda Senshu Bank, 2026) and the 38th SME Excellent New Technology and New Product Award Encouragement Prize (2026), and entered a joint research agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation and Fujita Medical University in May 2026 to verify gait training combining Toyota's Welwalk system with inoGear HE-1.

Name

INOMER

Legal name

株式会社INOMER

Website

https://inomer.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Short description

INOMER (株式会社INOMER), founded in Nara, Japan in April 2024, develops the inoGear HE-1, a non-exoskeleton wearable robotic gait rehabilitation device using a proprietary wire actuator to replicate physical therapist hip joint handling for rehabilitation hospitals, clinics, and physical therapy centers in Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rehabilitation Robotics

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation Therapy Equipment (PT/OT Modalities, Exercise & Balance Devices) (HLAHAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Assistive Robotics (HDAAAIAC), Orthotics & Bracing (AFO/KAFO, Spinal, Soft Goods Supports) (HLAHAMAC), Prosthetics/Orthotics Rehab & Amputee Rehabilitation (HSADAIAN)

Keywords

• Wearable rehabilitation robotics
• Gait assistance devices
• Wire actuator mechanism
• Walking rehabilitation robots
• Medical wearable devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Nara

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales (inoGear HE-1): INOMER is developing the inoGear HE-1 as a robotic gait rehabilitation device. The company is currently in the prototype/development stage with no medical device approval or certification obtained yet. Revenue model is anticipated to be hardware sales to rehabilitation facilities once the product is commercialized.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INOMER develops the inoGear HE-1, a non-exoskeleton wearable robotic gait rehabilitation device for rehabilitation hospitals, physical therapy clinics, and home-visit rehabilitation settings. The device uses a proprietary wire actuator mechanism to structurally replicate physical therapist manual handling techniques for hip joint extension assistance during walking. The product is currently in the prototype/development stage without medical device approval and is being validated through monitor facility pilot programs at Japanese rehabilitation facilities.

Product overview

INOMER offers a single unified product, the inoGear HE-1, a wearable robotic device (robotic gear) for gait rehabilitation. The device is a non-exoskeleton robot using a proprietary wire actuator to assist hip joint movement during the stance phase of walking. It is designed to structurally replicate and quantify the manual handling techniques performed by physical therapists, aiming to achieve reproducible and consistent gait training assistance. The product is currently in prototype/development stage and has not obtained medical device approval.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• inoGear HE-1 A non-exoskeleton wearable robotic gear for gait rehabilitation designed for rehabilitation hospitals, physical therapy clinics, and home-visit rehabilitation settings. It features a proprietary wire actuator mechanism that applies targeted force to the pelvis and hip joint during the stance phase of walking, structurally replicating physical therapist manual handling techniques for hip joint extension. Specifications include W340 x H360 x D216mm body, 1.5kg weight including battery, 7kgf maximum wire tension, and 10.8V lithium-ion battery with button-operated intervention timing adjustment. The product is currently a prototype under development and has not obtained medical device approval or certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gait speed improvement and stride expansion observed in pilot evaluations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026INOMER has entered a joint research agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation and Fujita Medical University for walking rehabilitation support. The joint research will verify gait training using Toyota's 'Welwalk' walking training support robot alongside INOMER's inoGear HE-1 robotic gait rehabilitation device. Toyota brings expertise in robotics and mobility technology, while the partnership enables integrated rehabilitation approaches combining both companies' robotic platforms.
• Fujita Medical University (藤田医科大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026INOMER has entered a joint research agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation and Fujita Medical University for walking rehabilitation support. The joint research will use both Toyota's Welwalk system and INOMER's inoGear HE-1 for verification. Fujita Medical University contributes clinical medical expertise and rehabilitation research capabilities to the partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Fourier Intelligence: Fourier Intelligence is a China-based rehabilitation robotics company developing exoskeleton and end-effector robots for gait and limb rehabilitation in clinical and home settings. It is a meaningful emerging competitor in the same wearable gait rehab category with growing international expansion.
• Wearable Robotics: Wearable Robotics is an Italian startup developing lightweight active exoskeletons for industrial, medical, and consumer applications including gait assistance. It is an emerging player in soft/lightweight wearable robotic actuation, conceptually aligned with INOMER's lightweight, non-rigid approach.
• Bionik Laboratories: Bionik Laboratories develops robotic rehabilitation devices including the InMotion ARM and lower-limb assistive systems for clinical rehabilitation. It overlaps with INOMER in applying robotics to reproduce therapist-driven movement therapy, though it focuses more on upper-limb and conventional exoskeleton designs.

Direct peers

• ReWalk Robotics: ReWalk develops FDA-cleared wearable exoskeleton systems for gait rehabilitation and personal mobility, primarily for spinal cord injury and stroke patients. It is a direct peer in wearable robotic gait rehabilitation hardware, though it targets a more severe impairment profile than INOMER's hip-extension-focused approach.
• Ekso Bionics: Ekso Bionics manufactures the EksoNR robotic exoskeleton for neurorehabilitation of stroke and acquired brain injury patients in clinical settings. It directly competes with INOMER in the gait rehabilitation robotic device category for stroke and neurological patient populations.
• Cyberdyne: Cyberdyne develops the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) wearable cyborg/robotic exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation and physical function support, targeting the same Japanese rehabilitation hospital customer base as INOMER's inoGear HE-1. Both are wearable robotic devices for gait assistance, though Cyberdyne uses an exoskeleton approach versus INOMER's non-exoskeleton wire actuator design.
• Honda Motor (Honda Walking Assist): Honda's Walking Assist Device is a wearable robotic gait support system using cooperative control technology, targeting elderly and rehabilitation applications. It competes in the same wearable gait-assist category and shares the Japanese origin and clinical-rehab positioning as INOMER.
• Toyota Motor Corporation (Welwalk): Toyota's Welwalk is a commercially available robotic gait training device deployed in Japanese rehabilitation hospitals for stroke and lower-limb rehab. It directly overlaps with INOMER's inoGear HE-1 in target use case (gait rehab) and customer (Japanese rehab facilities), and the two companies have now entered a joint research agreement.

Broad incumbents

• Parker Hannifin (Indego): Parker Hannifin's Indego is a powered exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation and personal mobility, commercialized globally with FDA clearance. It is a broader industrial incumbent that has entered wearable rehab robotics, competing for institutional gait-rehab customers similar to INOMER's target segment.
• DIH Medical (Hocoma): DIH Medical (parent of Hocoma and Motek) is an established global provider of robotic and sensor-based rehabilitation devices including the Lokomat gait trainer and Armeo products. It is a broad incumbent offering a portfolio approach that competes for the same hospital rehabilitation budgets as INOMER's inoGear HE-1.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INOMER