Ergonomics of medical lasers: operator's viewpoint

Lasers are instruments that may enhance the surgeon's ability to perform surgery. Many medical lasers sit unused. Lack of use is associated with "user unfriendliness." Nurses and surgeons often cite factors such as complexity, location, and types of controls, and content of displays. Other factors such as culture-ethnology and its relationship to command words and symbols, affect understandability of controls, displays, and user friendliness. Laser designers and engineers must analyze the interaction between laser users and products. Laser design and operation must coincide with specific needs and expectations of the nurses and physicians. Poor design and engineering compromises result in nonuse of expensive instrumentation, products which are ineffective for clinical use, and could potentially increase the risk of possible injury to patients and staff. This discussion of the design and operation of medical laser systems, presents the advantages and disadvantages of several laser systems. User interfaces for controls: color, function, touch activation, labels and size, sound cues, laser activation, type and amount of feedback information during operation; design of storage for accessories, and need for features such as pulsing, and milliwatts will be discussed. We will present what we consider to be an ideal laser system.