Design Principles for Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation: Bridging the Gap from Research Prototype to Clinical Tool

Robotic rehabilitation is transforming traditional practices, offering precise, intensive training, and quantitative assessment. While these devices have great potential, integrating them into clinical settings presents challenges. This paper outlines design principles for industrializing rehabilitation robots, focusing on hardware, human-machine interface, and clinical features. Hardware considerations include the choice of robust materials and the need for customization. The interface design prioritizes usability and accessibility, considering the diverse user base made of both therapists and patients. Clinical features offer evidence-based clinical protocols and outcome reports for therapists and patients. This work aims to bridge the gap between potential and practical applications on the market, enhancing the impact of rehabilitation robots in clinical settings.