SBIR-STTR Award

The development of adjustable laboratory and work benches is of interest to schools and universities which have science or engineering laboratories; employers and employees in industrial research laboratories, hospital laboratories, commercial kitchens, electronics assembly sites, sheltered workshops, and other industrial work sites. Employers are interested in ergonomics and human factor designs which facilitate productivity and provide a sate and healthy work environment for the employee. Additionally, schools, universities and employers are interested in providing inclusive facility designs for people with physical and developmental disabilities. The primary objective of the proposed project is to determine the technical feasibility of producing a prototype adjustable laboratory and work bench system which will have universal application to an increasingly diverse work force and student population. The technical opportunity is focused on creating an affordable system which is appropriate for private sector businesses as well as schools and organizations with fewer financial resources. AD.AS's technical approach to determining the feasibility of producing an adjustable laboratory and work bench will take place in five phases designed to 1) generate design requirements; 2) develop technical criteria; 3) identity technical options; 4) evaluate technical options; 5) produce a plan for integrating preferred solutions into a prototype design.Proposed commercial application:Successful completion of this project and subsequent product development will improve the laboratory design or work environment for prospective users. It will facilitate the inclusion of older workers or workers with developmental or physical disabilities into the workforce. The inclusion of members of the workforce who have historically been excluded due to environmental and/or ergonomic barriers results in both social and economic benefits for an employer or educational institution.National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The successful commercialization of a height-adjustable laboratory bench that is wheelchair accessible and ergonomically sound is of interest to schools and universities which have science or engineering laboratories, employers and employees in industrial research laboratories, electronics assembly sites, and other industrial work sites. Employers need ergonomics and human factor designs that facilitate productivity and provide a safe, healthy work environment for the employee. Schools, universities and employers are interested in providing inclusive facility designs for people with physical disabilities. The primary objective is to complete the research and development of three versions of height-adjustable laboratory benches designed, built, and tested during Phase I. The proposed product will have universal application and marketability to an increasingly diverse work force and student population. The technical opportunity is focused on creating an affordable system suitable for private sector laboratories, federal labs, and universities. The work plan moves from concept to market and will take place in four phases. These phases are: l) evaluate the technical and performance features of the three prototypes; 2) conduct consumer and purchaser evaluations; 3) perform business evaluations to guide our commercialization effort; and 4) integrate the technical, consumer, and business evaluation into a product development and subsequent commercialization plan. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Successful completion of this project and subsequent product development will lead to improved ergonomics of the laboratory designs and work environments for prospective users. It will facilitate the inclusion of workers with physical disabilities and/or older workers into the workforce. The product developed could feasibly be used in every federal and university laboratory due to the non-existence of cost effective design options which provide both accessibility and an ergonomic solution.

Thesaurus Terms:
biomedical equipment development, ergonomics, nonclinical biomedical equipment, occupational health /safety assistive device /technology, functional ability, work site