Surgeon specific ergonomically enhanced microforceps for micro-neurosurgery

Abstract

Operating microscopes are integral components of modern neurosurgery. Despite the fact that there has been a significant technological progression in optics, many neurosurgeons are not satisfied with the present day neurosurgical instruments. With many instruments having dexterity limitations, constrained degrees of freedom and deprived ergonomics, the need for creating enhanced and better instruments is felt by neurosurgeons. The present work is related to surgeon specific ergonomic improvements in the fine microsurgical instrument called micro-forceps. This instrument is used to perform fine micro-suturing task under high magnification. The larger inter-tip distance gets amplified at this magnification and hence results in difficulty to perform suturing. Other factors related to ergonomics of this instrument are optimal applied force and surface roughness. Considering these design factors a new prototype of micro-forceps was designed, developed and validated. Subjective and objective analysis of the DMLS control and study instrument shows several ergonomic benefits. These include reduced inter-tip distance, reduced applied force of operation and optimal surface roughness.