A pilot study to precisely quantify forces applied by sonographers while scanning: A step toward reducing ergonomic injury

Dhyani, Manish; Roll, Shawn C.; Gilbertson, Matthew W.; Orlowski, Melanie; Anvari, Arash; Li, Qian; Anthony, Brian W.; Samir, Anthony E.

doi:10.3233/wor-172611

Cited by 37 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Using an instrumented transducer, measured mean and maximum applied axial forces exerted during abdominal scans of healthy volunteers were 7.9 and 17.4 N, respectively, for volunteers with BMI in the range of 18.5-25 (healthy weight category) and 10.5 and 23.5 N, respectively, for volunteers with BMI > 25. 8 Burnett and Campbell-Kyureghyan 9 published mean estimates of about 70 N of push force during lower extremity venous scans, by employing a force-matching technique. Based on electromyographic data, Village and Trask 10 estimated that mean forces during VT scans (lower extremity, renal) on actual patients ranged from 60 to 80 N.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaborating With Sonographers and Vascular Technologists to Develop Ergonomics Interventions to Address Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Sommerich

Evans

Lavender

et al. 2018

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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For more than two decades, surveys of imaging technologists have consistently reported high prevalence of workrelated musculoskeletal discomfort (WRMSD). Yet, workplace intervention research involving sonographers is limited. In this study, a transdisciplinary team of researchers used a participatory approach to work with diagnostic medical sonographers (DMS) and vascular technologists (VT) to identify needs and opportunities for developing new approaches to work that will reduce sonographers' exposures to WRMSD risk factors. In this paper, we describe the approach and the resulting identified needs. We also describe the prototyping and testing of two work approaches that target specific needs of DMS and VT, respectively. We would like designers, manufacturers, engineers, and ergonomists, in collaboration with sonographers and their managers, to recognize this area of opportunity and come together to apply their knowledge of biomechanics and design in developing useful and usable workplace interventions (solutions) to reduce sonographers' WRMSD risk factor exposure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaborating With Sonographers and Vascular Technologists to Develop Ergonomics Interventions to Address Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Sommerich

Evans

Lavender

et al. 2018

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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“…If this study were carried out in a clinical department, it could also assess the effect on the matched grip force when scanning obese patients, which has been shown to impact on transducer grip force. 10,31 The dynamometer provides a consistent method of measuring grip pressure, although bias could be introduced as participants were aware that the researchers wanted to determine whether there was any effect from the training. There are also inherent challenges of using matched grip force, as found in the study by Boa et al 32 Many other factors influence a workers' chance of developing a WRMSD, 1,2,9,33 so further studies would benefit from addressing wider issues in addition to ergonomics and transducer grip.…”

Section: Limitations and Further Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Limitations and Further Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Teaching Ultrasound Ergonomics to Ultrasound Practitioners Reduce White Knuckles and Transducer Grip Force?

Harrison

Harris

Flinton

2018

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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Ergonomic training is necessary to help reduce work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) in sonographers. This study provided an ergonomic training session for sonographers, to determine whether a teaching intervention changed the grip force used to hold a transducer. Thirteen practitioners participated and were placed into two groups (intervention group n = 7). Participants were asked to scan the same simulated transabdominal early pregnancy case. An ergometer was used, which enabled all participants to hear the effect of holding the transducer tightly. Their matched grip force was measured before and after the intervention using a dynamometer. The intervention group reviewed videos and photographs taken during the scan to see if this affected the matched grip force further. Study findings showed that the short ergonomic training session with the use of an ergometer significantly reduced the matched grip force applied to a transducer (P < .05) for all participants. The video/photo review did not result in any further significant changes.

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“…In a more recent study proposed by Virga et al [30], the applied force is optimized based on the image quality and can increase up to 20 N for the abdominal aortic scan. Additionally, in the recent study proposed by Dhyani et al [31], although the mean value of the applied force was found to be 8.2 N, the maximum force during abdominal US examination varied widely, reaching 36.5 N. There is also evidence suggesting that the required level of force is related to the body mass index (BMI) of the patient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Analysis of a Customized Clutch Joint Designed for the Safety Management of an Ultrasound Robot

et al. 2019

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Robotic systems have great potential to assist ultrasound (US) examination. Currently, the safety management method to limit the force that a US robot can apply mostly relies on force sensing and software-based algorithms. This causes the concern that the potential failure of sensors, electrical systems, or software could lead to patient injuries. In this paper, we investigated a customized spring-loaded ball clutch joint designed for a newly developed US robot to passively limit the force applied. The working mechanism of the clutch was modelled and the kinematic-based analysis was performed to understand the variation of the limited force at different postures of the robot. The triggering torque of the clutch was found to be 3928 N·mm, which results in the mean limited force 22.10 ± 1.76 N at the US probe end based on potential postures. The real measurement of the implemented design indicated that the limited force could be set between 17 and 24 N at the neutral posture depending on the preload. With the maximum preload, the mean limited force was found to be 21.98 ± 0.96 N based on 30 repeated measurements. The practically measured results meet the expectation from the theoretical calculation, and the resulting small variation has indicated a good repeatability of the clutch. Based on this evidence, it is concluded that the proposed clutch meets the design aim that it can limit the force applied within a safe range while at the same time ensuring that the required force is applied at different postures.

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A pilot study to precisely quantify forces applied by sonographers while scanning: A step toward reducing ergonomic injury

Cited by 37 publications

References 18 publications

Collaborating With Sonographers and Vascular Technologists to Develop Ergonomics Interventions to Address Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Collaborating With Sonographers and Vascular Technologists to Develop Ergonomics Interventions to Address Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Can Teaching Ultrasound Ergonomics to Ultrasound Practitioners Reduce White Knuckles and Transducer Grip Force?

Analysis of a Customized Clutch Joint Designed for the Safety Management of an Ultrasound Robot

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