Design and development of a hybrid device to assist frail users in mobility, transfer and rehabilitation
Rohit Kumar1, Janakarajan Ramkumar1, Mohan Gurjar2
1Department of Design and Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India.
Objective:
his study presents the design and development of a hybrid assistive device that combines modularity and multiutility to support the mobility, transfer, and rehabilitation needs of frail users, including the elderly, patients, and persons with impairments.
Methods:
A high-fidelity prototype was developed using a user-centred design approach and evaluated with 33 participants, comprising healthy users, caregivers, and patients with mobility impairments. Quantitative and qualitative usability evaluations were conducted using the System Usability Scale (SUS), the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and a user experience survey.
Results:
The hybrid device mean usability score (SUS = 69.8 ± 16.12), corresponding to the good to excellent usability range and NASA-TLX workload analyses effort and performance (p < 0.001)) which demonstrated improved caregiver efficiency and reduced physical strain, as well as improved task performance. User experience rated highest for the mobility (mean = 3.67), modularity (mean = 3.64), and rehabilitation support (mean = 3.60) prove the effectiveness of device.
Conclusion:
This study proposed a novel assistive device that combines ergonomic design, adjustable height, and multiutility functions to assist users during safe transfers, mobility, and rehabilitation while minimising the physical load on caregivers. The device offers a practical, affordable solution for early mobility and rehabilitation support, particularly in resource-limited healthcare settings.
