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Improvement of the laparoscopic needle holder based on new ergonomic guidelines
M A van Veelen1, D W Meijer, I Uijttewaal
1Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands. m.a.vanveelen@io.tudelft.nl
Background:
The aim of this study is to create new ergonomic guidelines for the design of laparoscopic needle holders.
Methods:
An ergonomic literature study, observations in the operating room, handle-shaft angle measurements, and anthropometric data were used to compile new ergonomic criteria, specified to the function of a laparoscopic needle holder. Based on these guidelines a new needle holder was designed. The prototype and three currently available needle holders were evaluated according to the new guidelines. In addition, a pelvi-trainer test was done to measure the extreme wrist excursions.
Results:
The ergonomic evaluation of three commonly used handles and the new prototype indicate that the new handle is an ergonomic improvement in the field of laparoscopic needle holders: only the new handle satisfies all criteria. This is validated by the results of the pelvi-trainer test, which showed that the new prototype significantly (p <0.001) reduced the extreme wrist excursions.
Conclusion:
The new design guidelines for a laparoscopic needle holder result in an ergonomic improvement of the instrument.
