Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2004 May 8;328(7448):1115-8.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.328.7448.1115.

Ergonomics in medicine and surgery

Robert Stone  1 , Rory McCloy
Affiliations
Review

Ergonomics in medicine and surgery

Robert Stone et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

This review outlines some of the issues surrounding ergonomics that are relevant to medical and surgical practice and to health care in general

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Simple three dimensional computer graphics, or virtual reality tool, used to produce a basic ergonomic design for mini operating theatres on board Royal Navy vessels
Fig 2
Fig 2
Minimally invasive surgical trainer, MIST, fosters laparoscopic skills by training on carefully selected task primitives (top right), designed after a psychological breakdown of perceptual and motor behaviours of observed surgeons
Fig 3
Fig 3
Procedures requiring the use of microscopes (top left) can lead to back pain, fibromyalgia, or tension headache in up to 80% of microscopists. Three dimensional graphic simulation of temporal bone area with virtual drill (bottom left). Trainee surgeons view the graphics with special binoculars (top right). They can sense the simulated drill effects using a pair of PHANToM haptic (force and touch) feedback hand controllers (bottom right) (www.sensable.com)
Fig 3
Fig 3
Procedures requiring the use of microscopes (top left) can lead to back pain, fibromyalgia, or tension headache in up to 80% of microscopists. Three dimensional graphic simulation of temporal bone area with virtual drill (bottom left). Trainee surgeons view the graphics with special binoculars (top right). They can sense the simulated drill effects using a pair of PHANToM haptic (force and touch) feedback hand controllers (bottom right) (www.sensable.com)
Fig 3
Fig 3
Procedures requiring the use of microscopes (top left) can lead to back pain, fibromyalgia, or tension headache in up to 80% of microscopists. Three dimensional graphic simulation of temporal bone area with virtual drill (bottom left). Trainee surgeons view the graphics with special binoculars (top right). They can sense the simulated drill effects using a pair of PHANToM haptic (force and touch) feedback hand controllers (bottom right) (www.sensable.com)
Fig 3
Fig 3
Procedures requiring the use of microscopes (top left) can lead to back pain, fibromyalgia, or tension headache in up to 80% of microscopists. Three dimensional graphic simulation of temporal bone area with virtual drill (bottom left). Trainee surgeons view the graphics with special binoculars (top right). They can sense the simulated drill effects using a pair of PHANToM haptic (force and touch) feedback hand controllers (bottom right) (www.sensable.com)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Kohn L, Corrigan J, Donaldson M, eds. To err is human: building a safer health system. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999.
    1. Food and Drug Administration. Why is human factors engineering important for medical devices? www.fda.gov/cdrh/humanfactors/important.html (accessed 16 April 2004).
    1. Cooper J. An analysis of major errors and equipment failures in anesthesia management: considerations for prevention and detection. Anesthesiology 1984;60: 34-42. - PubMed
    1. Leape L. Error in medicine. JAMA 1994;21: 272. - PubMed
    1. Sawyer D. Do it by design: an introduction to human factors in medical devices. US Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration (Center for Devices and Radiological Health); Dec 1996.