| Joint replacement surgery, particularly of the knee is a commonly performed procedure in the U.S. The sagittal bone saws used during orthopedic surgery utilize a form factor derived from a drill that has remained largely unchanged since inception. Observation reveals that surgeons frequently adopt awkward, extreme or compensatory postures while using the saw.;With the goal of reducing operator strain, localized pressures and deviated wrist postures as well as improving control and subjective satisfaction, alternative form factors were developed and prototyped on a 3D printer. To compare models, test fixtures simulate the cutting guides used during knee replacements. Subjects are instrumented with motion tracking sensors to capture wrist posture while completing simulated sawing tasks and complete subjective usability questionnaires for each prototype. Quantitative data for wrist deviation and accurate task performance as well as a range of subjective and anthropometric data was collected and analyzed to determine if form factor or hand size had a significant impact on wrist posture, accuracy or subjective ratings. Results showed statistically significant differences in subjective usability ratings but form factor did not have a significant effect on wrist posture or accuracy. The results of this study add to the body of literature on surgical ergonomics and tool design and may help to improve usability of surgical instruments. |
