I don't know the details of this device or the manufacturer, but someone with more time on their hands should check that the company is meeting the quality system requirements of this device. A $100k exoskeleton probably has service requirements as an approved medical device from the FDA.
the relevant regulation is here, but you would need to find the requirements for the particular device: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFR...
The manufacturer in question is ReWalk, which has rebranded as LifeWard.
https://www.therobotreport.com/rewalk-robotics-rebrands-to-l...
Wikipedia still has the outdated name, in case someone here is an experienced editor.
fortunately there was no drm or intellectual property preventing him from getting the device repaired in this case
A $100k device without warranty? I don’t think the battery pictured in the article is the actual one, with 1.7Wh there’s not much walking to have, if it is that battery is like $3 on aliexpress.
Being a medical device he should file a complaint with the FDA. It won’t help his situation but the company will be forced to take notice. Absolutely despicable behavior by a company.
At least they're not threatening to sue him if he dares to fix it himself, right?
I'm not sure I understand the metrics we could use to force companies to make things repairable. I certainly don't think it will be beneficial to make companies offer to repair _everything_ and if it's not everything, what criteria would be used to determine what is legally something the have to repair?
I've not thought about this problem very long, but at a glance it seems like something very difficult to get right and I don't trust my government to get even the easy things right most of the time.