Tufts University - ergonomics in remote environments - (erel)

The rapid proliferation of enabling technology into the hospital operating room (OR) has changed the way health care is delivered to patients. It has changed the way surgeons do their work, introducing new instrumentations, techniques and procedures. In particular, endoscopic technology (e.g., endoscopes, endoscopic manipulators, endoscopic staplers, etc.) has revolutionised surgical practice. However, much of the development in endoscopic surgery, or minimally invasive surgery, has been technology-driven, with little consideration for human factors issues. As a result, the users of this new technology may have a more difficult task to perform. This has significant impact on patient outcome.

The goal of Human Factors engineering is to apply knowledge in designing systems that work, accommodating the limits of human performance and exploiting the advantages of the human user in the process. Research areas for EREL include:
Core competencies and resources:


Home People Publications HFSSRL Research Projects Contact Links		Human Factors Engineering in Medical Systems The rapid proliferation of enabling technology into the hospital operating room (OR) has changed the way health care is delivered to patients. It has changed the way surgeons do their work, introducing new instrumentations, techniques and procedures. In particular, endoscopic technology (e.g., endoscopes, endoscopic manipulators, endoscopic staplers, etc.) has revolutionised surgical practice. However, much of the development in endoscopic surgery, or minimally invasive surgery, has been technology-driven, with little consideration for human factors issues. As a result, the users of this new technology may have a more difficult task to perform. This has significant impact on patient outcome. The goal of Human Factors engineering is to apply knowledge in designing systems that work, accommodating the limits of human performance and exploiting the advantages of the human user in the process. Research areas for EREL include: Core competencies and resources: Human navigation and orientation in endoscopy—design of augmented reality displays for the visualisation of position and orientation during endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc. Human manipulation in endoscopy—design of endoscopic tools for the remote manipulation of tissues during minimally invasive procedure such as laparoscopic surgery. Visuomotor co-ordination—design of training tools for endoscopic skills. Technology assessment