Scientific Study on Dr. Mouse (Now marketed by 3M under the name Renaissance Mouse and available in 2 sizes)

A study was carried out to compare Anir mouse (Dr. Mouse) with a traditional mouse.

Electromyography (EMG) was used to record the muscle strain on the extensor pollicis longus, extensor digitorum communis and trapezius muscles.

The muscle strain on the forearm proved significantly lower with the Anir mouse (Dr. Mouse) than with a conventional model. This was also true for the extensor pollicis longus for the static (p=0.0005) and median (p=0.001) values of the amplitude distribution function (ADF) and the number of occasions per minute when the muscle strain was 1% MVC (p=0.03). The same clear trend was also found for the static muscle strain from the extensor digitorum com-munis (p=0.06). A reduction in muscle strain is thought to play an important role in the prevention of pain in the musculoskeletal system.

The Anir mouse requires only slight flexion of the wrist and slight twisting of the hand, resulting in low pressure in the carpal tunnel. This pressure may be a key factor in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The study showed that the general muscle strain is heavier than previously believed when using a conventional mouse.

Injuries resulting from use of a conventional mouse are likely to increase in the future. In the U.S. alone, estimates put the cost of "mouse injuries" at $7 billion. It was therefore vital to design products which can reduce and prevent injuries caused by using the wrong mouse.