Cobots in maxillofacial surgery – challenges for workplace design and the human-machine-interface

摘要

The global shortage of skilled workers and the growing pressure on medical facilities to work profitably and efficiently is increasingly causing clinics and doctors to confront major problems. Especially routine medical interventions should be performed quickly and with few employees. Nevertheless, cost savings must not be at the expense of patients. One way to solve this dilemma is the use of flexible, collaborating robots, so called Cobots, that can be integrated into existing surgical processes. This paper shows the existing requirements for the workplace and the necessary human-machine interface for use in the medical environment. Furthermore, an approach to human-centered workplace design is reported. In addition to the design of the workplace using virtual ergonomics and workplace analyses, the kinematic chain as well as applicable end effectors for medical interventions are presented. In the context of a phantom study the use of the Cobot could be tested and evaluated for the first time.