Arthroscopic shavers are ubiquitous in operating rooms (OR) and surgery centers for performing many minimally invasive procedures, including ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) repairs, and knee and shoulder reconstruction. In additional to a set of strict design criteria outlined by the marketing team, including the three button arrangement in line with the lever, this device has to withstand being cleaned in an autoclave multiple times a day and survive up to 500 autoclave cycles, presenting a unique design challenge. This was addressed by reducing components and complexity, and ensuring sealed and robust component throughout the entire unit.
The primary design focus of this project was to improve the comfort of the grip, while making the use of the lever more natural to the user. Contextual research revealed doctors were employing many different grip positions while using the device, so versatility became central. By making the new design more balanced in the user's hand and fine tuning the location of the lever, the ergonomics of the device were greatly improved.
(shown with previous model for comparison)
