Defining the design requirements for an assistive powered hand exoskeleton

The goal of this study was to identify design criteria for the development of an assistive powered hand exoskeleton by consulting with potential end users. Structured interviews with clinicians and patients with hand impairment were carried out and the results were tabulated. Three participants with impaired hand function also underwent a quantitative measurement session regarding hand function. The objective of the measurement sessions was to understand the characteristics, abilities and limitations of the upper limb of individuals who could benefit from a hand exoskeleton device, in order to better define design criteria and control options for such a device. For the most part, clinicians and participants with hand impairment agreed on expectations for a hand exoskeleton device on topics including important grasp patterns, wear time, and grip strength. However, their expectation seemed to diverge on the topic of control, where clinicians felt simple reliable control strategies would be preferred, but patients desired intuitive control. This research has identified key features of hand exoskeleton design requirements that will need to be met in order to have acceptable clinical translation to patient populations. Including endusers in the design of such a device is essential for successful patient-oriented technology development.