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Improvement of foot pedals used during surgery based on new ergonomic guidelines
M A van Veelen1, C J Snijders, E van Leeuwen
1Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands. m.a.vanveelen@io.tudelft.nl
Background:
This study aims to create new ergonomic guidelines for the design of foot pedals used during surgery.
Methods:
Observations in the operating room, a questionnaire among 45 laparoscopic surgeons/residents, an ergonomic literature study, and clog measurements were used to assess the problems occurring during use and to compile new guidelines for foot pedals. Based on these guidelines a new foot pedal was designed and a prototype was manufactured.
Results:
During the surgical procedure 91% of the subjects occasionally loses contact with the foot pedal, which 56% experience as very annoying. All subjects think that the current foot pedals obstruct their freedom of movement; 75% occasionally hit the wrong switch and 53% experience physical discomfort in their legs and/or feet. Therefore, 93% of the subjects would like to control the diathermy in a different way. The new prototype of a foot pedal was evaluated in a pilot test and proved to be ergonomically better than the currently used foot pedals.
Conclusion:
The new guidelines for foot pedals result in an ergonomic improvement in their design.