Identification of Users' Needs for Pediatric Upper Extremity Exoskeletons.

PURPOSE

Identify users' needs for pediatric upper extremity (UE) exoskeletons and how users would like exoskeletons to serve their needs.

METHODS

Qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews performed with families who are English-speaking with a child aged 3 to 16 years with a chronic need for UE assistance to perform activities. Content analysis was conducted for the responses.

RESULTS

Twenty-two parents and 12 children among 21 families participated. Families identified key personal care, function and mobility, manual interaction, academic, recreational, and social activities they would like devices to support. Families rated the importance of a variety of design factors. Families using UE wearable assistive devices noted that they better met their functional needs relative to other needs. Families provided design suggestions for future exoskeletons, including preferences for attachment mechanisms, fasteners, and control systems.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides important information to guide the prescription and design of UE exoskeletons for pediatric populations.