Inverse dynamic analysis of the biomechanics of the thumb while pipetting: a case study

Details

• Personal Author:
  An K-N ; Buczek FL ; Gloekler DS ; Sinsel EW ; Wimer BM ; Wu, John Z. ; Zhao KD
• Description:
  Thumb-push manual pipettes are commonly used tools in many medical, biological, and chemical laboratories. Epidemiological studies indicate that the use of thumb-push mechanical pipettes is associated with musculoskeletal disorders in the hand. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the kinematics and joint loading of the thumb during pipetting. The time-histories of joint angles and the interface contact force between the thumb and plunger during the pipetting action were determined experimentally, and the joint loadings and joint power in the thumb were calculated via an inverse dynamic approach. The moment, power, and energy absorption in each joint of the thumb during the extraction and dispensing actions were analyzed. The results indicate that the majority of the power is generated in the interphalangeal (IP) and carpometacarpal (CMC) joints for the pipetting action. The analysis method and results in the current study will be helpful in exploring the mechanism for musculoskeletal injuries of the hand associated with pipetting, providing a preliminary foundation for ergonomic design of the pipette. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Ergonomics Laboratories Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Ergonomics Body-mechanics Equipment-design Extremities Force Hand-injuries Hand-tools Human-factors-engineering Injury-prevention Joint Moment Kinematics Laboratory-equipment Modeling Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Pipette Thumb

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• ISSN:
  1350-4533
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  34
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20039877
• Citation:
  Med Eng Phys 2012 Jul; 34(6):693-701
• Contact Point Address:
  John Z. Wu, NIOSH/CDC, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS-2027, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  jwu@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Medical Engineering & Physics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a6ee38c5f91c5d6b65b6a0a3df8f78e1aa74fde04eace31ca0122f11a05445cf3ca78e90cd043a6800041784a85c0158dcd8918c804c1829db45f906d8c1f120
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/192940/cdc_192940_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 696.85 KB ]