The development of an innovative corneal biopsy tool: A usability comparison of four ergonomic handle prototypes

Abstract

Keratitis, or an inflammation of the cornea, is a common eye disease in which a biopsy of the cornea is required to determine its underlying cause. Currently, no standardized tool is available for this purpose and corneal scrapings are performed with a scalpel or wide needle, frequently with inconclusive results as too little material is removed for fear of penetration. Previous research resulted in a new cutting principle, and is used in this follow-up study. The aim of this research is to optimize the usability of the cutting principle through a user evaluation (N = 18) of four ergonomic handle prototypes. The results of this study suggest that a forceps-shaped handle provides improved usability, and propose design guidelines for further optimization.