A User–Centered Approach Involving the Clinicians for the Design of Medical Devices: Case Study of a Soft Robotic Exoskeleton for Rehabilitation

This paper proposes a systematic approach for involving the clinicians in the design of medical devices, here used for the development of a soft robotic glove for rehabilitation. The approach considers the integration of different methodologies that take into account the emotional information of the clinicians considered as end–users (i.e. Kano–Kansei) and a deep analysis of the needs of both the patients and the clinicians (i.e. house of quality). Based on this user–centered approach, the paper develops different rehabilitation concepts realized through the technique referred to as design of experiments. Finally the optimal one is chosen re–involving the clinicians and using the ANOVA analysis.