Custom Ergonomic Workstation

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

3rd Oral Presentation3/28/02

Dr. Paul KingDr. Ed Glaser

Objectives

• Reduce office injuries related to a sedentary lifestyle

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

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

Market Potential/Target Market

• Growing amount of computer-based jobs• Growing amount of posture-related

injuries• Growing awareness of ergonomics

• Target those with 4+ hours daily computer time

• Target those with current/prior serious back problems

• Target those already frequent chiropractor

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

Habitual Posture

• Influences kinesthetic awareness• Sitting posture

– Stretches shoulder blades and back– Shortens chest, hips, and shoulders

• “Normal” posture places low back in a lordosis

• Neutral alignment results in the least amount of muscle energy

Biomechanical Goal

• Provide therapeutic benefit• Reduce muscle energy expenditure• Place back in a neutral alignment

Anatomy of the Back

• Normal curvature is S-shaped

• Curvature can deviate due to muscular imbalance

• 80% Americans have faced low back pain

• Ages 25-60 have highest probability to complain

Lordosis: A Closer Look

Done Since Last Presentation

• Prepare back for mold• Make mold

Chair Back

Prepared Back

• File down large nicks with sandpaper

• Smooth out minor nicks mechanically

Cutting PVC

• Trace with wax pen

• Cut

First Problem

• PVC sheet placed on back and three heat guns were used to form

• Heat not distributed uniformally• Caused wrinkles

Vacuum Forming

• Technique of choice• Apparatus was too small• Had to cut the PVC in half• Had to cut the cast in half

Vacuum Forming Cont.

Vacuum Forming Cont.

Attaching Sections

Final Chair

• Need to create larger vacuum forming apparatus

• Need to reduce sides

Future Work

• Pad chair• Attach Legs• Attach Arms• Comfort Test• Revise• Create Compatible Workstation

Workstation Design

• Trunk-Upper Leg angle 110-120 degrees• Angled • Upper Leg-Lower Leg angle greater than

90 degrees• Footrest angle 15-25 degrees above

horizontal• Cutout angled desk with adjustable

height controls• Monitor within normal line of sight

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