Designed for whom? A patent landscape analysis of adjustable laboratory workbenches through the lens of Universal design.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether patented innovations in adjustable laboratory workbench design address the access needs of students and professionals with disabilities, using Universal Design as an analytical framework.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A systematic patent review was conducted across three databases (WIPO Patentscope, Espacenet, and INPI-Brasil) using IPC code B01L9/02 combined with terms related to laboratory workbenches, height adjustment, accessibility, and ergonomics. Searches were conducted up to October 2025, yielding 232 records. Following pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 patents published between 1973 and 2024 were selected. Each patent was evaluated against the seven Universal Design principles using a structured three-point ordinal scoring instrument (0 = absent; 1 = partial/implicit; 2 = explicit), developed inductively through qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 48 patents analysed, 64.6% explicitly referenced ergonomics, while only 4.2% mentioned accessibility. Only two patents addressed the needs of users with disabilities as an independent design criterion. Flexibility in Use was the most represented principle (100% presence; 85.4% explicit application), while Equitable Use showed the lowest rates (16.7% presence; 4.2% explicit application). Perceptible Information and Size and Space for Approach and Use were substantially absent, indicating limited attention to sensory and spatial accessibility.

CONCLUSION

Laboratory workbench innovation has advanced ergonomic optimisation for able-bodied users while consistently omitting accessibility considerations for persons with disabilities from its design scope. The technological basis for accessible solutions already exists; the barrier lies in design intent rather than technical capability. Universal Design must be adopted as a guiding criterion from the earliest stages of product development.