Design and development of an ergonomic neonatal surgical table

Abstract

In many regions, neonatal surgical procedures are conducted on adult-sized tables because neonatal surgical tables are rare. The objective of this study was to design and develop an ergonomic neonatal surgical table to help neonatal and infant surgeons avoid musculoskeletal disorders and improve effectiveness with neonatal surgeries. AutoCAD design software was used for the design in addition to other production engineering procedures like material selection and acquisition, cutting, welding, and drilling. The design utilised the anthropometric measures of a target user population. The device consists of a table surface, a surface adjustment lever, a linear actuator, and the foot pedal for adjusting table height and was observed to be ergonomically appropriate for the surveyed demographic. The adjustability of the table height, which is an important feature of the design, is also expected to permit a wide range of users who may not have been part of the study. The result of this study has the potential of creating a safer work environment for surgeons who attend to neonates, as well as supporting future studies on the ergonomics of neonatal surgeries.