User-Centered Design and Development of the Modular TWIN Lower Limb Exoskeleton.

ABSTRACT: For decades, powered exoskeletons have been considered for possible employment in rehabilitation and personal use. Yet, these devices are still far from addressing the needs of users. Here, we introduce TWIN, a novel modular lower limb exoskeleton for personal use of spinal-cord injury (SCI) subjects. This system was designed according to a set of user requirements (lightweight and autonomous portability, quick and autonomous donning and setup, stability when standing/walking, cost effectiveness, long battery life, comfort, safety) which emerged during participatory investigations that organically involved patients, engineers, designers, physiatrists, and physical therapists from two major rehabilitation centers in Italy. As a result of this user-centered process, TWIN's design is based on

SUBMITTER: Laffranchi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8529015 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature