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S U R G I C A L S T A P L I N G
bariatric length," she says. The angle at which the tissue needs to be
approached is not always the most direct, of course. Manufacturers
have responded so that you can rotate, turn and articulate the stapler
shaft in many directions to make the use more comfortable for the
surgeon and more appropriate for the patient's best outcomes, says
Ms. Brunswick. Ergonomics matter, too (see "Can Staplers Cause
Surgeon Fatigue?"). Manufacturers have improved stapler handles
and grips, and accounted for right- and left-handed use.
All of these advances are not without their challenges. Purchasing and
materials management staff must keep track of the many new products
and SKUs on the shelf. The scrub and circulator have to learn how to oper-
ate the multiple devices. "In-service staff to make sure how they know how
to take the stapler apart and put it back together," says Ms. Frank. OSM
E-mail
doconnor@outpatientsurg ery.net
.
information to guide the development and design of new ergonomic surgical tools."
To compare the biomechanical risks associated with the use of manual and pow-
ered surgical staplers, researchers measured the physical characteristics and forces
required to activate the various functions of a stapler, including staple firing and blade
retraction, for 2 manual designs and 1 powered design. Measurements included han-
dle shape and contour, handle angle, hand and finger reach, and grip spans.
Researchers used 4 stacked layers of 4-mm thick foam as a tissue surrogate for all
clamping and firing operations.
Both manual staplers subjected users to repeated grip forces in excess of 20
pounds during staple firing and blade retraction functions, the researchers found.
Published literature indicates that maximum grip force levels should not exceed 25
pounds when designing a hand tool for use by 95% of the female population. They also
found that the dimensions of the manual staplers are not adequately suited for use by
male or female surgeons having a glove size less than 6.5.
— Dan O'Connor
