Measurement of abdominal retractor loading and its effects on the surgeons arm

A load measuring apparatus integrated into an abdominal retractors and its methodology are presented. The measured forces offer new knowledge in the fields of surgery and may be useful in the design of new retractors and fixing frames as well as the investigation of tissue loading during surgical intervention. Effort required to hold the retractor is quantified for the surgeons forearm and the approximation of muscle fatigue can be evaluated with respect to the duration of surgical intervention.