ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002 Arm Supports for Ergonomic Positioning TEAM: Jeff Chung, Michael Siminovitch, Robin Lafever, Steve Dellinges, John Bercovitz, Chris Kniel

ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002 Office Environment – Computer work Manufacturing Environment – Light Assembly Lab Environment – Repetitive Handwork Inspection Fume Hoods Biological Safety Cabinets Production Genomics Work Life Sciences Benchwork Applications

ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002 The Need... “Scientific evidence shows that musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back and upper extremities can be attributed to particular jobs and working conditions – including heavy lifting, repetitive and forceful motions, and stressful work environments…but the problem can be reduced with well-designed intervention programs.” National Academy of Sciences Report (1/18/2001) FY 99: 43% of all disabling workplace injuries and illnesses (nation-wide) are associated with ergonomics and at a financial cost of $16.8 billion. [Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index Report – 2002] FY 02: 62% LBNL DOE-Recordable cases caused by poor ergonomics (Strains/Sprains, CTDs & RSIs). FY 02: LBNL Property Management dBase inventoried > 9,400 computers (desktops and laptops) issued to employees. 7/99-8/02: 20% LBNL employee visits (168) to Health Services triggered by computer use. 4/85-6/02: 145 WComp “ergo claims” resulting > $2M incurred costs and 13,602 days of TD/Loss Work Days (productivity).

ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002 Phase I Concepts External support systems Device absorbs or applies forces to the anatomy externally. The effective dynamic is to provide a lifting force, or net decrease in gravity, applied to selected parts of the arm-shoulder system. Reactions and redistributed forces are routed to the chair, or floor. Body supported systems Device reroutes forces from one part of the anatomy to another. The effective dynamic is to augment or unload muscle groups that ordinarily take constant strain, and reroute forces onto other parts of the anatomy, into the chair, or into the floor.

ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002 Idea Engineering Concepts Lab set up Concept generation Hardware Fab, Mod, Iterate Testing and Evaluation Screen candidates Invention Disclosure Engineering Development LBNL Technology Transfer Acquire instrumentation Measure Muscle Activity Refine Evaluation Criteria Develop Engineering Prototypes Conduct Engineering tests $ $ Industry Solution Development Funding LBL Presentation McGraw Presentation Seed money $ Production Prototype Funding $ Industry CRADA or SBIR Product Development Phase IPhase IIPhase III Develop Product requirements Design for manufacture Produce production prototypes Conduct product field testing We are Here ! Commercialization

ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002 Phase I, Design Effort

ASEP Ergonomic support development Fall 2002

Phase II Mechanical Arm Rest Development Engineering Models Several prototypes Test results to Iteration CAD models & Drawings Analysis / Animations Shop work & Assembly + materials Production package CAD models & Drawings Exemplar Shop Visits Short-run production Lab Testing Lab / Equipment set-up Train crew Perform testing Reduce results Industry Presentation Documentation Slide show Improve existing prototypes Misc. tweaks and improvements Add roller bearings Address safety issues Set-up in lab environment Shop work & Assembly + materials 6 Month Plan - $150k Cycles through engineering models.