Soft tissue material cumulative damage model for reducing repetitive stress injuries in performing a process

A computer system for reducing repetitive stress injuries to soft tissue in performing an assembly line manufacturing process, the system comprising at least one electronic processor that executes instructions to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining at least one repetitive stress data set related to the soft tissue and to the assembly line manufacturing process, wherein the repetitive stress data set characterizes an exposure that a worker accrues in completing an assembly line task that forms part of the assembly line manufacturing process;
• accessing at least information characterizing a first damage regime, wherein the first damage regime consists of a no damage regime, wherein the information quantifies a number of repetitions at a given stress for the soft tissue to transition out of the first damage regime;
• predicting, based on at least the information and the repetitive stress data set, conditions sufficient for damage to the soft tissue, wherein the predicting comprises predicting conditions sufficient to transition from the first damage regime to a second damage regime, wherein the second damage regime consists of a sub-rupture damage regime;
• and
• determining, based on at least the predicting, at least one guideline for reducing a risk of a soft tissue material repetitive stress injury, wherein the at least one guideline specifies a limitation on a number of repetitions of a given movement of a supraspinatus tendon, wherein the at least one guideline is for reducing a risk of a supraspinatus tendon repetitive stress injury, wherein the determining comprises determining at least one guideline for reducing a risk of transitioning from the first damage regime to the second damage regime;
• whereby the at least one guideline is implemented in the assembly line manufacturing process, wherein the implementing comprises modifying the assembly line task of the worker in conformance with the at least one guideline, and wherein the guideline is implemented by the worker performing the modified assembly line task in conformance with the at least one guideline.

A method of reducing the potential for repetitive stress injuries to human soft tissue in performing an assembly line manufacturing process, the method comprising:

• obtaining at least one repetitive stress data set related to the soft tissue and to the assembly line manufacturing process, wherein the repetitive stress data set characterizes an exposure that a worker accrues in completing an assembly line task that forms part of the assembly line manufacturing process;
• accessing at least information characterizing a first damage regime, wherein the first damage regime consists of a sub-rupture damage regime, wherein the information quantifies a number of repetitions at a given stress for the soft tissue to transition out of the first damage regime;
• predicting, based on at least the information and the repetitive stress data set, conditions sufficient for damage to the soft tissue, wherein the predicting comprises predicting conditions sufficient to transition from the first damage regime to a second damage regime, wherein the second damage regime consists of a tear propagation regime;
• determining, based on at least the predicting, at least one guideline for reducing a risk of a soft tissue material repetitive stress injury, wherein the at least one guideline specifies a limitation on a number of repetitions of a given movement of a supraspinatus tendon, wherein the at least one guideline is for reducing a risk of a supraspinatus tendon repetitive stress injury, wherein the determining comprises determining at least one guideline for reducing a risk of transitioning from the first damage regime to the second damage regime;
• and
• implementing the at least one guideline in the assembly line manufacturing process, wherein the implementing comprises modifying the assembly line task of the worker in conformance with the at least one guideline, and wherein the implementing comprises the worker performing the modified assembly line task in conformance with the at least one guideline.

A computer system for reducing repetitive stress injuries to soft tissue in performing an assembly line manufacturing process, the system comprising at least one electronic processor that executes instructions to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining at least one repetitive stress data set related to the soft tissue and to the assembly line manufacturing process, wherein the repetitive stress data set characterizes an exposure that a worker accrues in completing an assembly line task that forms part of the assembly line manufacturing process;
• accessing at least information characterizing a first damage regime, wherein the first damage regime consists of a sub-rupture damage regime, wherein the information quantifies a number of repetitions at a given stress for the soft tissue to transition out of the first damage regime;
• predicting, based on at least the information and the repetitive stress data set, conditions sufficient for damage to the soft tissue, wherein the predicting comprises predicting conditions sufficient to transition from the first damage regime to a second damage regime, wherein the second damage regime consists of a tear propagation regime;
• determining, based on at least the predicting, at least one guideline for reducing a risk of a soft tissue material repetitive stress injury, wherein the at least one guideline specifies a limitation on a number of repetitions of a given movement of a supraspinatus tendon, wherein the at least one guideline is for reducing a risk of a supraspinatus tendon repetitive stress injury, wherein the determining comprises determining at least one guideline for reducing a risk of transitioning from the first damage regime to the second damage regime;
• and
• implementing the at least one guideline in the assembly line manufacturing process, wherein the implementing comprises modifying the assembly line task of the worker in conformance with the at least one guideline, and wherein the implementing comprises the worker performing the modified assembly line task in conformance with the at least one guideline.