Role of TPEs in enhancing healthcare
Ergonomics is a science of designing work area, product and task around human body; fitting work environment to the worker, instead of forcing human worker to adapt to poor design and task function, avoiding long term health implications.
Today, designers, apply ergonomic principles while designing products to maximise efficiency and occupational safety. It is all about “fit” between people and their work, taking into account worker’s capabilities, limitations, tasks, equipment, information and environment. Regulatory authorities around the world are mandating that products be designed around human body limits.
This is greatly evident in healthcare applications, addressing concerns around patients and doctors. Typically, less painful surgeries for patients tend to be more demanding on the surgeons. The increased technological complexity and poorly adapted equipment lead to increased fatigue and discomfort for doctors. Ergonomic integration and suitable operating room equipment and environment are essential to improve productivity, safety and comfort. Studies have shown that correct ergonomics can reduce suturing time, reduce pressure related chronic pains among surgeons.
TPEs help provide ergonomic enhancement to medical devices and equipment, enabling the user with a higher degree of movement control; allowing to operate the devices for longer periods while reducing risk of stress, injury and musculoskeletal disorders. TPEs help make products easier and safer to use by enabling designs that fit the human body. TPEs provide tactile feel, dampening and non-slip performance providing user with perception of precise control. Critical performance properties provided by TPE include:
- Enhanced user interface control
- Excellent dampening of noise, vibration
- Reduced forceful exertion
- Less contact stress
- Lower chances of injuries with prolonged use
Zylog’s TPE are used in medical devices to enhance product ergonomics in areas of:
- Device & Handle grips
- Foot and Heal Orthotic Pads
- Handheld equipment grips
- Buttons
- Plungers
- Septum Caps & Closures
- Nebuliser Masks
- Earbuds
- Menstrual Cups
- Droppers