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.