ergonomic pipette research
TRANSCRIPT
REDUCING THE RISK OF REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES DUE TO PIPETTING
Richard Scordato
VistaLab Technologies, Inc.
Topics
• Background
• Pipetting Ergonomics
• A New Ergonomic Pipette Design
• Pipette Evaluations
• Questions
Is Pipetting Really an Ergonomic Risk?
Hire an Ergonomist!
Kevin Costello
Dennis Mitchel
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science of work. The goal of
ergonomics is to remove barriers to quality, productivity
and human performance by fitting products, tasks and
environment to people
On a National Basis……
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the single largest job-related injury and illness problem in the United States
• WMSDs account for 34% of all reported illnesses and injuries, totaling 626,000 days away from work
• U.S. employers are currently paying in excess of $15 billion per year in workers compensation costs for WMSDs and associated expenses
-Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), November 14, 2000
The Ergonomics Literature
• Swedish Laboratory Workers1
- 44% reported hand problems
- 58% reported shoulder problems
- 44% reported neck problems
• U.S. Pipetting Study2
- Significant increases in hand & elbow injuries among pipette users
• National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health3
- “a biomechanical hazard exists from exposure to pipetting operations . . .”
1. MG Bjorksten et al, 1994; 2. G. David, P. Buckle, 1996; 3. NIOSH 1995
Injuries Attributed to Pipetting
Injuries Attributed to Pipetting
• VistaLab Survey
– 45% report at least occasional pain or discomfort while pipetting
Pipetting is the #1 cause of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD’s) in the laboratory
• Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
• Tendinitis
• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Trigger Finger
• Tension Neck Syndrome
• Others
Injuries are Widespread
• Not just older Lab Workers
• Not just thumb and hand – Shoulder, neck, elbow and back
• Women more than men
Why does Pipetting Increase the Risk of Injury?
General Ergonomic Risk Factors
VibrationPersonal
Repetition
Environment
Posture
Contact Stress
Force
Risk Factors
Report: “An Ergonomic Disaster”
Pain: hands, wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck
• Considerable reaching resulting in repetitive upper arm flexion & abduction
• Unsupported arm and static muscle loading of the shoulder
• Cramped work space, especially under hoods
• Considerable amount of neck flexion
• Handling multiple objects
Report: “An Ergonomic Disaster”
Pain: hands, wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck
• Excessive finger flexor muscle during aspirating and dispensing
• Excessive force associated with tip attachment
• Pain /discomfort associated w/ tip attachment & tip eject effort levels
• The tip of the thumb is used almost exclusively
Axial Pipettes
• Design is over 40 years old
• Simplest & cheapest way to make a pipette
• The science of ergonomics was unknown when invented
Key Ergonomic Issues with Axial-Design Pipettes
• Pipette length requires user’s arm to be at an excessive height
• Narrow body shape requires a tight fist grip during use
• Excessive wrist flexion and arm supination required
• Excessive forces are required
Key Ergonomic Issues with Axial-Design Pipettes
• Poor tip fit
• High tipping & tip ejection forces
• High plunger forces
• Awkward volume adjustment
• Shape not fitted to the hand
Ergonomist’s Conclusion:
• Modification of the axial design does not meet the objectives
• A totally new design was needed
What Makes a Pipette Ergonomic?
General Ergonomic Risk Factors
VibrationPersonal
Repetition
Environment
Posture
Contact Stress
Force
Risk Factors
A Totally New Design Platform for Pipetting
• Non-axial structure
• Contoured shape
• Freestanding
• Adjustable hook
• Large contoured plunger
• Large functional buttons
The Ovation Design
• Positive tip acquisition
• Actuated tip removal
• Low plunger forces
• Electronic Volume Selection
• Volume Presets
Posture Comparison
Traditional pipettes Ovation
“Clenched Fist”
Increases stress, reducing available hand strength and diminishing productivity
Loose, Relaxed
Increases available strength in hand, improving endurance and productivity during
pipetting
Posture Comparison
Traditional pipettes Ovation
Elevated, “Winged Elbow”
Arm/hand elevation exceeding 12” causes stress to the neck and shoulder
Close to work surface
Arm elevation remains low, minimizing stress to elbow, shoulder and neck
Posture Comparison
Over-rotated
Rotation exceeds 90º, causing stress to the wrist, hand and elbow. Arm Supinated
Neutral, Relaxed
Wrist remains in a neutral range of motion throughout all pipetting operations. Arm pronated
Traditional pipettes Ovation
Reference: Rempel D, Bach J, Gordon L, Yuen S. Effects of Forearm Pronation/Supination on Carpal Tunnel Pressure. Journal of Hand Surgery 1998; 23A:38-42
. . . To Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Awkward Posture is the Leading Contributor . . .
Ergonomic Performance
Carpal Tunnel Pressure
45 degrees pronation 0 degrees (vertical) 45 degrees supination
Reference: Rempel D, Bach J, Gordon L, Yuen S. Effects of Forearm Pronation/Supination on Carpal Tunnel Pressure. Journal of Hand Surgery 1998; 23A:38-42
17 mmHg 27 mmHg 39 mmHg
Ovation Evaluations
• ETC Ergonomist’s testing
• NIOSH
• Duke University
• Customer Feedback
Ergonomic Testing
EMG (electromyogram) testing as used to measure the activity of muscle groups used during pipetting.
Electrogoniometry is used to measure posture.
Example: Forces required by different pipettes to discard tips
Recommended limit 15% MVC35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
OP
Flexor
Extensor
Ovation A B C DPipette
%M
VC (a
t ful
l str
engt
h)
Source: Ergonomic Technologies Corporation, Syosset, New York
What Does This Mean When Pipetting?
Example: uninterrupted full cycle measurement of wrist extension and flexion
AverageExtension
AverageFlexion
Ovation A B C D Pipette
Deg
ree
of w
rist f
lexi
on a
nd e
xten
sion
Recommended Limit
Recommended Limit
Source: Ergonomic Technologies Corporation, Syosset, New York
What Does This Mean When Pipetting?
Example: arm flexion and extension during aspiration
Recommended limit
Recommended limit
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
MaxFlexion
Max Extension
Ovation A B C D PipetteD
egre
e of
arm
flex
ion
and
exte
nsio
n
Source: Ergonomic Technologies Corporation, Syosset, New York
What Does This Mean When Pipetting?
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Re-designed Pipette for Reducing the
Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Disorders
Ming-Lun (Jack) Lu, Ph.D.
Sunil Sudhakaran, M.S. AEP
March 24, 2005
National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)
Objective
• To determine whether the re-designed pipette (i.e. ergonomic intervention) significantly reduces the MSD physical risk factors associated with pipetting
Data Collection
• Thumb and total finger forces using 19 FlexiForceTM sensors
• Outcome variables:
– Thumb force: force data of 2 sensors
– Total finger force: sum of force data of all 19 sensors
Data Collection (cont.)
• Wrist posture and forearm rotation using a twin axis electrogoniometer and a torsiometer
• Outcome variables:
– Wrist ulnar/radial deviation
– Wrist flexion/extension– Forearm
pronation/supination
Electrogoniometer
Data Collection (cont.)
• Shoulder elevation using video data analyzed with Multimedia Video Task AnalysisTM
software
– Outcome variable: shoulder elevation greater than 45°
Pick up pipette Pick up tip Aspirate Overblow Eject tip
Thu
mb
Forc
e (K
g)
0
1
2
3
4
5
Benchmate Eppendorf Ovation
AA
B
A A
B
A
B
A
AB
A
Thumb Force
Different letters indicate a significant difference (p<0.05)
Pick up pipette Pick up tip Aspirate Overblow Eject tip
Tot
al F
inge
r F
orce
(K
g)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Benchmate Eppendorf Ovation
AA
B
AA
BA
B
A
A
BA
C
C
A
B
A
Total Finger Force
Different letters indicate a significant difference (p<0.05)
Pick up pipette Pick up tip Aspirate Overblow Eject tip
Wri
st D
evia
tion
(D
egre
es)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Benchmate Eppendorf Ovation
A
A
B
A
B
A
A
B
A
A
A
A
B
A
AA
Wrist Deviation
Different letters indicate a significant difference (p<0.05)
Pick up pipette Pick up tip Aspirate Overblow Eject tipSho
ulde
r E
leva
tion
Gre
ater
than
45
degr
ees
(Per
cent
Tim
e)
0
20
40
60
80
100
Benchmate Eppendorf Ovation
A A
B
A
A
B
A
BA
A
BA
CA
A
A
Shoulder Elevation Greater than 45°
Different letters indicate a significant difference (p<0.05)
NIOSH Conclusion
• The re-designed, low force pipette showed a significant reduction in the most important MSD risk factors for pipetting, as compared to two other traditional axial-design pipettes
A Comparison of Traditional and Alternative Pipettes:
Comfort and Preference
Tamara James, MA, CPETamara James, MA, CPE
Ergonomics DirectorErgonomics Director
Duke University & Health SystemDuke University & Health System
Durham, North Carolina USADurham, North Carolina USA
Duke Study Summary
• “Overwhelming preference for Ovation in terms of Overwhelming preference for Ovation in terms of ‘Comfort’”‘Comfort’”
• ““Strong preference for Ovation in terms of ‘Accuracy’ Strong preference for Ovation in terms of ‘Accuracy’ and ‘General Use Throughout Workday’”and ‘General Use Throughout Workday’”
Cap Opener
• Study led to solutionStudy led to solutionaddressing specificaddressing specificproductivity issueproductivity issue
Cap Opener Cap Opener
VistaLab Surveys
• Random Sample of Customers
• Did you have pain or discomfort while pipetting?
Conclusions
• Ovation Design Uniquely Addresses Pipette Ergonomics
• NIOSH Study Supports Reduction of MSD Risk
• Duke Study Shows Greater Comfort and Preference
• Ovation Users Report Reduction in Pain and Discomfort
Pipette Ergonomics Focus Group
Questions?