Fitting a Chair to a Surgeon’s Body: Mechanism of a Chair for Ophthalmologic Surgeon in an Operating Room

We report the design and testing of a chair to better fit and support an ophthalmologic surgeon during a procedure. The aim of the new chair design is to enhance the surgical performance by reducing physical fatigue. If surgeons are more comfortable, they may make fewer errors, leading to better patient safety. The seat surface is made of fiber-reinforced plastics and molded with a curvature that provides pelvic and side support. The cushioning material is not urethane; instead, it is plastic entwined in a thread structure that can be easily processed. A mechanism that allows the backrest to slide forward and backward allows adjustment for differences in thigh length while enhancing support in the sacral and pelvic regions. The clinical pilot test by surgeons indicated that the prototype chair decreased the pressure on the seat surface and prevented backward tilt of the pelvis compared to a conventional chair. The synergistic effect of the seat surface and backrest allows a stable work posture while minimizing forward displacement.