title: Ergonomic design and evaluation of the handle for an endoscopic dissector.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to design an endoscopic dissector handle and objectively assess its usability. The handles were designed with increased contact area between the fingers and thumb and the eye rings, and the eye rings were modified to have a more perpendicular insertion angle to the finger midline. Four different handle models were compared, including a conventional product. Subjects performed dissection, exclusion, grasping, precision manipulation and precision handling tasks. Electromyography and subjective evaluations were measured. Compared to conventional handles, the designated handle reduced the muscle load in the extensor and flexor muscles of the forearm and increased subjective stability. The activity of the first dorsal interosseous muscle was sometimes influenced by the shape of the other parts. The ergonomically designed endoscopic dissector handle used in this study achieved high usability. Medical instrument designs based on ergonomic concepts should be assessed with objective indices. Practitioner Summary: The endoscopic dissector handles were designed with increased contact area and more suitable insertion angle between the fingers and thumb and the eye rings. Compared to conventional handles, the designated handle reduced the muscle load in the extensor and flexor muscles of the forearm and increased subjective stability.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Design Science, Graduate School of Engineering , Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimomura
authors.affiliation: a Division of Design Science, Graduate School of Engineering , Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minowa
authors.affiliation: b Research Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawahira
authors.affiliation: a Division of Design Science, Graduate School of Engineering , Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katsuura
mesh_terms: D004210:Dissection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004576:Electromyography; D019723:Endoscopes; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005542:Forearm; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Endoscopic dissector; electromyography; product design; surgical tool; usability