Defining the design requirements for an assistive powered hand exoskeleton: A pilot explorative interview study and case series.

Background: Powered hand exoskeletons are an emerging technology that have shown promise in assisting individuals with impaired hand function. A number of hand exoskeleton designs have been described in the literature; however, the majority have not been supported by patient-oriented criteria.

Objective: The aim of this study was to define preliminary end-user needs and expectations for an assistive hand exoskeleton.