Current designs of scalpel handles are not ideal for hand ergonomics and can lead to difficulties for certain cutting motions or slipping of the tool. A new design was created by Dr. Raymond Dunn at UMass Medical, to improve the shape of the handle as well as adding a rubber material grip portion. The goal of this project is to address the need to limit slipping while taking into consideration comfort and mobility of the instrument. The addition of a texture pattern and choice of material was utilized to increase the friction between the surgical glove and the grip portion of the tool. Testing protocols were created to determine which surface textures provided the highest coefficient of friction, as well as which prototypes were comparable to the precision of the original scalpel design.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Shaidani, Sawnaz
• Burke, Anna Mary
• Ross, Marylouise K.
• Rueda, Roger John

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-051220-222646

Advisor

• Page, Raymond L.

Year

• 2020

Sponsor

• UMass Medical School

Date created

• 2020-05-12

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright