Dr. Leonard O'Sullivan

Faculty Of Science & Engineering

Design And Manufacturing Technology

School Of Design

Email: Leonard.osullivan@ul.ie

Biography

Leonard O'Sullivan is Professor (personal chair) of human factors and ergonomics in the School of Design, and a Funded Investigator (Confirm Smart Manufacturing Centre) of the Rapid Innovation Unit with University Hospital Limerick. He is a lead faculty researcher in the Design Factors research group. His research interests include user centred design in medical device innovation, 3D printing and additive manufacturing in medical device design, ergonomics of musculoskeletal disorders, and human factors in worker robot collaboration.

Prof. O'Sullivan is a Fellow and current Chairman of the Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (UK), member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (USA), and member of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (UK).

Research expertise:
Medical device innovation, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, human Factors in product design, musculoskeletal disorders, healthy and safety management, human robot collaboration.

Research Interests

Design ergonomics, Industrial Ergonomics, Human Factors in Product Design, User Centered Design, Usability, Musculoskeletal disorders, Healthy and safety Management, Medical Device Innovation and Safety

Professional Activities

Association

2016 Registered Member, Institute of Designers of Ireland
2013 Member, Human Factros and Ergonomics Society (USA)
1999 Irish representative, Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES)
1999 Fellow, Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (UK)
Member, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Fellow, Fellow Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Committee

2005 National Occupational Health Strategy Steering Group for the Health and Safety Authority,
2005 ISO Standards-CEN TC122,
2002 Irish Ergonomics Society,
Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society,

Education

2001 University of Limerick - Ph.D.
1998 University Of Limerick - M.Sc.
1997 University of Limerick - B.Tech.

Consultancy

Medicolegal - Investigation of human factors and ergonomics in human/product system interaction.

Language

German

Peer Reviewed Journals

2020

Relationship Between Interface Pressures and Pneumatic Cuff Inflation Pressure at Different Assessment Sites of the Lower Limb to Aid Soft Exoskeleton Design

Kermavnar T.;O’Sullivan K.J.;de Eyto A.;O’Sullivan L.W. (2020) Relationship Between Interface Pressures and Pneumatic Cuff Inflation Pressure at Different Assessment Sites of the Lower Limb to Aid Soft Exoskeleton Design. Human factors

Biography

Research Interests

Professional Activities

Association

Committee

Education

Consultancy

Language

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

Relationship Between Interface Pressures and Pneumatic Cuff Inflation Pressure at Different Assessment Sites of the Lower Limb to Aid Soft Exoskeleton Design

Circumferential tissue compression at the lower limb during walking, and its effect on discomfort, pain and tissue oxygenation: Application to soft exoskeleton design

Discomfort/Pain and Tissue Oxygenation at the Lower Limb During Circumferential Compression: Application to Soft Exoskeleton Design

Task engagement as a mediator between the cognitive demands of sustained attention and musculoskeletal complaints: A structural equation modelling approach

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy May Be Performed Poorly by Children With Cystic Fibrosis

A Single-arm, Practical Application Assessment of User Experience and Peristomal Skin Condition Among Persons With an Ileostomy Using a New Barrier Seal With Assisted Flow

Design and Evaluation of a Soft Assistive Lower Limb Exoskeleton

Using personas to exploit environmental attitudes and behaviour in sustainable product design

Exoscore: A Design Tool to Evaluate Factors Associated With Technology Acceptance of Soft Lower Limb Exosuits by Older Adults

Assessment of an active industrial exoskeleton to aid dynamic lifting and lowering manual handling tasks

Rationale, Implementation and Evaluation of Assistive Strategies for an Active Back-Support Exoskeleton

Foreseeing the microbiology of bespoke 3D printed medical devices.

Inhibiting the Physiological Stress Effects of a Sustained Attention Task on Shoulder Muscle Activity

Computerized Cuff Pressure Algometry as Guidance for Circumferential Tissue Compression for Wearable Soft Robotic Applications: A Systematic Review

Children With Cystic Fibrosis May Be Performing Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy Incorrectly

Technology Acceptance and User-Centred Design of Assistive Exoskeletons for Older Adults: A Commentary

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) therapy may be performed poorly by children with CF

Play as learning: implications for educators and parents from findings of a national evaluation of school readiness in Ireland

The moderating role of end-tidal CO2 on upper trapezius muscle activity in response to sustained attention

Effects of cognitive loading and force on upper trapezius fatigue

Simulation Architecture for Modelling Interaction Between User and Elbow-articulated Exoskeleton

Ranking the effects of cycle time parameters, shoulder posture and load, on shoulder discomfort in a single experiment using Taguchi methods

Exoskeletons for industrial application and their potential effects on physical work load

Are Irish therapists at heightened risk for low back pain?

Does Using a Chair Backrest or Reducing Seated Hip Flexion Influence Trunk Muscle Activity and Discomfort? A Systematic Review

Cognitive functional therapy for disabling non-specific chronic low back pain: A multiple case cohort study

Does using a chair backrest or reducing seated hip flexion influence trunk muscle activity and discomfort: A systematic review

Musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and psychosocial risk exposures by age and gender in a cohort of office based employees in two academic institutions

Cognitive Functional Therapy for Disabling Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: Multiple Case-Cohort Study

Standards for the Safety of Exoskeletons Used by Industrial Workers Performing Manual Handling Activities: A Contribution from the Robo-Mate Project to their Future Development

Safety and Risk Management in Designing for the Lifecycle of an Exoskeleton: A Novel Process Developed in the Robo-Mate Project

Shoulder Muscle Loading and Task Performance at Head Level on Ladders versus Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

Self-selected duty cycle times for grip force, wrist flexion postures and three grip types

The effect of a backrest and seatpan inclination on sitting discomfort and trunk muscle activation in subjects with extension-related low back pain

The effect of manual handling training on transferring knowledge, employee's behaviour change and subsequent reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review

The effect of a backrest and seat pan inclination on sitting discomfort and trunk muscle activation in subjects with extension-related low back pain

Human Centred Design Considerations for Connected Health Devices for the Older Adult

The effect of dynamic sitting on trunk muscle activation: A systematic review

Perceptions of sitting posture among members of the community, both with and without non-specific chronic low back pain

Back pain beliefs among physiotherapists are more positive after biopsychosocially orientated workshops

Effects of grip type and wrist posture on forearm EMG activity, endurance time and movement accuracy

Investigating the effect of real-time spinal postural biofeedback on seated discomfort in people with non-specific chronic low back pain

Specific flexion-related low back pain and sitting: comparison of seated discomfort on two different chairs

What do physiotherapists consider to be the best sitting spinal posture?

Can we reduce the effort of maintaining a neutral sitting posture?

Towards monitoring lumbo-pelvic posture in real-life situations: Concurrent validity of a novel posture monitor and a traditional laboratory-based motion analysis system

A medical hand tool physical interaction evaluation approach for prototype testing using patient care simulators

Back pain beliefs among physiotherapists are more positive after biopsychosocially orientated workshops

Preschool children's social pretend play: supporting the development of metacommunication, metacognition and self-regulation

The effect of dynamic sitting on the prevention and management of low back pain and low back discomfort: a systematic review.

Lumbar posture and trunk muscle activation during static and dynamic seated tasks on a novel dynamic ergonomic chair

The between-day and inter-rater reliability of a novel wireless system to analyse lumbar spine posture

Neutral lumbar spine sitting posture in pain-free subjects

Cybernetic Manufacturing Systems Project-Ergonomics Solutions for Flexible Production Systems

The Effects of Force and Exertion Duration on Duty Cycle Time: Implications for Productivity

Psychosocial Risk Exposures and Musculoskeletal Disorders across Working-Age Males and Females

Effect on discomfort of frequency of wrist exertions combined with wrist articulations and forearm rotation

Force, posture and repetition induced discomfort as a mediator in self-paced cycle time

Effects of combined wrist deviation and forearm rotation on discomfort score

Upper limb discomfort profile due to intermittent isometric pronation torque at different postural combinations of the shoulder-arm system

The reliability of a wireless monitor for measurement of lumbar spine posture

Effects of combined wrist flexion/extension and forearm rotation and two levels of relative force on discomfort

Work related psychosocial risks and musculoskeletal disorders: Potential risk factors, causation and evaluation methods

Estimating upper limb discomfort level due to intermittent isometric pronation torque with various combinations of elbow angles, forearm rotation angles, force and frequency with upper arm at 90 degrees abduction

Guideline threshold limit values (TLVs) for discomfort in repetitive assembly work

Effects of upper arm articulations on shoulder-arm discomfort profile in a pronation task

Effects of upper arm articulations on shoulder-arm discomfort profile in a pronation task

Forearm torque strengths and discomfort profiles in pronation and supination

Workplace injury risk prediction and risk reduction software for the non Ergonomist

Upper-limb surface electro-myography at maximum supination and pronation torques: The effect of elbow and forearm angle