The "USAbility" Study - Human Factor Validation Testing of the Atalante Exoskeleton

Robotic assisted rehabilitation has been successfully proposed and employed especially when motor conditions do not allow the patient to walk. However, limitations in usability often prevent from a widespread adoption of robotic devices (e.g., exoskeletons) in clinical routine Their success is highly dependent on user acceptance, which in turn is determined by the subjective intention-to-use, as well as by the perception of usability and comfort. Approaching the design of such devices with Human Factors and Usability engineering has proven to be an effective means to enhance performance-related outcomes such as fewer errors, less time and lower mental effort. Usability testing is commonly considered a cornerstone in user-centered design, as it provides information about problematic design issues. It further serves as a validation test for performance requirements, such as efficiency or safety of operation.

Based on these considerations, we propose a study to analyze the usability of Atalante device and demonstrate that it can be used by the intended users without serious use errors or problems, for the intended uses and under the expected use conditions. The scope of this research study is to validate all the critical tasks performed by the intended operators of the device in a typical rehabilitation session according to IEC 62366-1(2020) and the FDA Guidance "Applying human Factors and Usability Engineering to Medical Devices". This knowledge will inform further development of exoskeletons and improve the widespread uptake and medical use of such devices, in light of the many benefits that these technologies can bring to future patients.

15 operators will be recruited and attend an 8 hours and 30 minutes training split in three days and provided by Wandercraft before the use of the device.

Usability will be assessed by:

1. IFU questionnaire
2. Simulated tasks test: users' performance will be observed to determine if the assigned task was performed correctly by the operator. 5 patients will be recruited to simulate a typical session with the exoskeleton*.
3. Final debriefing: subjective operators' assessments will be collected after the test The device user interfaces represent the final design of the device, and the study will be performed in actual conditions of use at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, a physical medicine and rehabilitation research hospital based in Chicago, Illinois, USA which is representative of the intended use environment.