Some Mexican firms are hoping to join the booming life-sciences industry in the U.S. Medical device maker Innovamedica has a product in development called a ventricular assistive device--used to keep patients alive during heart surgery--that is undergoing animal trials at the Texas Heart Institute.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"This new surgically implanted assistive device provides an option for patients who have lost their sight to RP -- for whom there have been no FDA-approved treatments, " said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a statement.

CNN: FDA approves first bionic eye

Here on Earth, IHMC is interested in developing and using X1 as an assistive walking device.

ENGADGET: NASA and IHMC building X1 exoskeleton to give us a lift, keep us fit in space and on Earth