Custom Ergonomic Workstation

Group 3Jim Herbst Jr.BME 272/2732001-2002

Dr. Paul KingDr. Ed Glaser

Objectives

• Design and prototype the first complete one-piece fully customized ergonomic workstation

• Invent a casting process which can be administered in a doctor’s office

• Reduce office injuries related to a sedentary lifestyle

Market Potential

• Growing amount of computer-based jobs

• Growing amount of posture-related injuries

• Growing awareness of ergonomics• .5 million display screen equipment

operators working in the UK - one quarter of the work force

Target Market

• Those who spend 4 hours of more at a computer each workday

• Upper-middle to upper class

• Large companies

Why a Custom Ergonomic Workstation?

• RSI has increased by 22% in the last two years• To reduce WRULD, eye strain, back and neck

pain, and headaches associated with VDUs• To increase employee comfort, thus increasing

employee production• It is difficult to accommodate people from the

5th-percentile female to the 95th-percentile male without customization

What’s Been Done in the Past

Why There’s Room for Growth

• There are few truly customized ergonomic chairs on the market

• There are no truly customized ergonomic workstations on the market

• 20 billion dollars paid in compensation claims for RSI in US in 1993

• 2/3 of all employees sit incorrectly– Sit on edge of seat– Do not use backrest

Injuries To Be Prevented• Most frequently cited physical

complaints among seated employees:

Headaches/Concentration Neck and Shoulder Pain

Back and Spine Pain Buttock Region Pain

Thigh Pain Knee and Leg Pain

Ergonomic Workplace Design

• General workplace design

• Placement of VDU• Chair• Keyboard/mouse

What We’ve Done So Far

• Patent search• Internet search• Brainstorming casting techniques• Creation of primary casting prototype• Creation of secondary casting prototype

Patent Search

• Searched the US patent office for relevant patents

• Found over 200 patents• None contained a

patent incorporating a customized seat and desk

Internet Search

• Primary search for chair design

• Search for casting methods

Brainstorming Casting Techniques

• Thermoplastic• RediFoam™custom-molded patient

cushions• Vac-Lok™ custom-molded vacuum

cushions• Plaster

                                                                                       

Thermoplastic

• Thermoplastic material softens in warm water

• As it cools, it hardens

                              

RediFoam™

• Single patient use

• Foam rises to cradle patients anatomical contours

Vac-Lok™

• Contains tiny polystyrene beads• Air is evacuated to create a rigid support• Cushion can be reinflated and disinfected

for another patient

Plaster

• Hardens upon application

• Soothing feeling• Inexpensive

Creation of Primary Casting Prototype

• Easy to be administered by chiropractor

• Comfortable for patient

• Correct posture

Creation of Secondary Casting Prototype

• Fix mistakes of first prototype

• More comfort• Better posture

What Happens Next?

• Chair design• Chair materials search• Workstation design

Works Cited

• www.ergonomic-solutions.com/p_seat.html• www.infinn.com/infopack.html• www.prbofficeinteriors.com/aeron/

aerondesign.htm• http://condor.depaul.edu/~atamulis/ergo-

4.html• www.ergoboy.com/ergo_for/office.php• http://www.patientfixation.com/

producttypes/custom-molded-body-cushions.asp