LEGMIO hands-free crutches particularly impressed visitors. Designed by Nicolas Perrin-Gilbert, a CNRS research fellow at ISIR, this device won the gold medal and the Impact Award thanks to a simple idea: to make it easier for people using crutches to get around whilst allowing them to keep one hand free.
As a robotics engineer, Nicolas Perrin-Gilbert initially developed several prototypes of motorised crutches. But as his experiments progressed, he realised that a passive solution could be sufficient to resolve a large part of the problem. After numerous iterations, he then designed LEGMIO, a crutch designed to free up one hand whilst maintaining stability and comfort when walking.
The invention was therefore designed to address a well-known difficulty faced by people undergoing rehabilitation or convalescence. With conventional crutches, even the most ordinary tasks quickly become complicated: opening a door, carrying an object or even holding a phone often requires stopping or losing one’s balance. LEGMIO aims precisely to make these situations simpler and safer.
An approach focused on independence
The system is based on a dual-support design intended to improve stability whilst moving. This design allows the user greater freedom of movement and enables them to carry out certain everyday tasks without having to keep both hands free.
Unlike many highly complex technological innovations, LEGMIO focuses above all on practical use. The aim is not to add connected features, but to provide a practical solution to a problem faced by many people who use crutches on a temporary or permanent basis.
An invention that is immediately intuitive
One of the project’s key strengths lies in its obviousness. From the very first demonstrations, the benefits of the device are quickly apparent. Users can move around more easily whilst still being able to carry a small bag, use their phone or handle everyday objects.
In the field of mobility aids, the most significant innovations are often those that meet very specific needs without complicating the user experience.
This recognition at the 2026 Concours Lépine could now help the project gain greater visibility and pave the way for wider development. Behind this invention lies, above all, a human ambition: to make getting around simpler and less restrictive for people with temporary or long-term mobility challenges.
Find out more about Legmio: the hand-free crutch
Scientific contact: Nicolas Perrin-Gilbert, CNRS research fellow at ISIR
Published on 29/05/2026
