A Wearable Sensor-Based Platform for Surgeon Posture Monitoring: A Tool to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders

Surgeons are workers that particularly prone to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Recent advances in surgical interventions, such as laparoscopic procedures, have caused a worsening scenario, given harmful static postures be kept for long periods. In this paper, we present sensor-based platform specifically aimed at monitoring posture during actual operations. The proposed system adopts limited number Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) obtain information about spine and neck angles across time. Such merges reliability approaches validity state-of-the-art scoring procedure, RULA. Specifically, three IMUs used estimate flexion, lateral bending, twisting neck. An ergonomic risk index is thus estimated time varying fashion borrowing relevant features from RULA system. detailed functioning systems introduced, assessment results related real consisting laparoscopy mini-laparotomy sections, shown discussed. exemplary case study surgeon high score, indicating need an intervention on working large fraction. allows separately analyzing contribution neck, also specifying angle configuration. It how approach can provide further information, dynamical analysis, which could enlarge taken into account by currently available assessment. adopted both training purposes, well alerting surgeons