Human Factors in Healthcare · Published 2026-08-01 · DOI 10.1016/j.hfh.2026.100150
Jacob Urban, Christian Wölfel, Marek Holováč, Steffen Göbel, Sebastian Wolfram, Antje Naas, Johanna Pfeifer, Richard Nauber, Paul-Henry Koop, Tönnis Trittler, Julian Kober, Nicole Kampfrath, Thomas Karlas, Valentin Blank, Jochen Hampe, Moritz Herzog
Despite being the most commonly used medical imaging technology worldwide, ultrasound probes have undergone few to no changes throughout the past decades. Recent studies have shown that the intensive use and unsuitable design of ultrasound equipment contributes to a high prevalence of wor k-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among examiners. This study, therefore, examined means to enhance the ergonomic qualities of abdominal ultrasound probes and the resulting acceptance rates by medical staff. Using feedback from 25 physicians, weight, size and center of mass were identified as key factors for perceived ergonomics during experiments in a simulated environment, whereas the hand size, age and experience of the subjects had no significant impact. Based on these findings, a redesigned probe was developed, offering improved perceived ergonomics while maintaining acceptance comparable to that of established probes. By aligning with existing technical constraints, the proposed design could be readily implemented in clinical practice, reducing WMSDs among healthcare professionals.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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Urban, J., Wölfel, C., Holováč, M., et al. (2026). Ergonomic Redesign of Abdominal Ultrasound Probes: A Haptic Simulation-Based Approach to Enhanced Usability and Strain Reduction. Human Factors in Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hfh.2026.100150