Case study of integrated ergonomic assessment of a cart-based high-end ultrasound system

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) system design ergonomics is a closely related task to work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sonographers. Lack of common design principles behind control panels and UI/workflow characteristics among different vendors, is nowadays a characteristics of the Diagnostic US Market. A set of benchmarks, i.e. the analysis of previously released US systems and user group interviews, was considered to define the design of a new cart-based High-End diagnostic US scanner. Mock up tests, related to the whole system body and the system control panel, were performed. The outputs of the benchmark analysis, the user group and the mock up tests were the design inputs of a new cart-based US system. The new cart-based system is intended to reduce the operator’s hand and arm movements during scanning procedures, decreasing the scanning time and the number of activations needed to complete a task.