Title :
Ergonomic evaluation of a new rotating, dual position laparoscopic instrument handle
Author :
Amaral, Jose ; Levine, A.
Author_Institution :
Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
Abstract :
Due to the restricted access of laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon´s hand, wrist and arm are often forced into awkward positions. This is leading to cumulative trauma disorders of the wrist and arm. A unique handle design is described which permits the surgeon, without interrupting surgery, to rotate the instrument handle from a standard pistol grip to an in-line grip. This permits the surgeon to straighten his/her wrist and maintain ideal hand-wrist-arm ergonomics. We evaluated in surgery the ergonomics of this unique handle in conjunction with a detachable shaft system. The ability to rotate the handle allows the surgeon to maintain a greater degree of control and comfort and to avoid abnormal hand/wrist flexion and extension
Keywords :
biomechanics; biomedical equipment; ergonomics; surgery; arm; awkward positions; comfort; control; cumulative trauma disorders; detachable shaft system; ergonomic evaluation; hand; hand/wrist extension; hand/wrist flexion; handle design; ideal hand-wrist-arm ergonomics; in-line grip; laparoscopic surgery; restricted access; rotating dual position laparoscopic instrument handle; standard pistol grip; wrist; Anatomy; Ergonomics; Geometry; Hospitals; Laparoscopes; Minimally invasive surgery; Shafts; Surges; Surgical instruments; Wrist;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1994. Engineering Advances: New Opportunities for Biomedical Engineers. Proceedings of the 16th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2050-6
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.1994.412027