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Improved usability of a new handle design for laparoscopic dissection forceps
M A Veelen1, D W Meijer, R H M Goossens
1Faculty of Design, Engineering, and Production, Subfaculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 9, 2628 BX, Delft, The Netherlands. m.a.vanveelen@io.tudelft.nl
Surgical Endoscopy
|April 19, 2002
Summary
A new instrument handle design significantly improves surgical usability and reduces injury risk. Its hinged construction minimizes extreme wrist movements, offering a safer and more comfortable user experience compared to existing options.
Area of Science:
- Surgical instrument design
- Ergonomics
- Medical device usability
Background:
- Existing instrument handles often cause discomfort and do not meet all ergonomic criteria.
- A novel handle was developed to enhance ease of manipulation and reduce operator injury risk.
- The study aimed to validate the ergonomic improvements of this new handle design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the usability of a newly designed surgical instrument handle.
- To compare the new handle's performance against six currently available market options.
- To demonstrate the success of the design improvements in usability and safety.
Main Methods:
- Comparative usability assessment of seven instrument handles (six existing, one new).
- Eight surgeons performed precision and rough tasks using the handles in a pelvi-trainer.
- Usability was evaluated through subjective questionnaire responses and objective video analysis of wrist excursions.
Main Results:
- Questionnaire data revealed significant usability differences between the new handle and the Aesculap handle.
- Video analysis demonstrated significant improvements in wrist excursion control with the new handle compared to all six existing handles.
- No significant differences were found between the new handle and five other existing handles based on questionnaire responses alone.
Conclusions:
- The new hinged instrument handle offers significantly improved usability over six existing designs.
- The hinged design effectively reduces the need for extreme wrist excursions during surgical tasks.
- The new handle represents a substantial advancement in surgical instrument ergonomics and safety.