Ergonomic surgeon's chair for use during minimally invasive surgery

The characteristic working situation in laparoscopic surgery involves elong ated instruments and Limited mobility of the surgeon during the operation. These circumstances require new technical solutions to enhance the surgeon' s comfort. In other surgical fields with special ergonomic situations, such as microsurgery, some surgeons prefer to operate from a seated position at the operating room table. We developed a new surgeon's chair dedicated to the ergonomic and functional requirements of laparoscopic surgery. The chai r allows the surgeon to maintain a semistanding position during the operati on. Foot pedals for high frequency and suction/irrigation are integrated in to the base of the chair. The pedals are purposely aligned to be comparable to foot pedals in a car. The chair is driven by electromotors, controlled with a special foot switch that operates independent of assisting personnel during surgery. Initial clinical testing of the chair could prove the theo ry that supporting the surgeon with a cockpit type of operating room chair helps to avoid fatigue during long endoscopic procedures. Such assistance i s especially important in combination with robotic devices for use during s olo surgery.