Role
Project Manager / Design Lead
Sector – Medical
Year – 2015
Challenge
Create a infusion pump platform that will enable procedures with better patient outcomes at a lower cost to the hospital.
Impact
Uncovered 8 key insights that will drive the next decade of infusion pump systems, and embodies those insights into concept opportunities.
Data >
Collect data using the most appropriate methodology
- Stakeholder Interviews (Internal/External)
- (6 Nurses, 2 Hospital Administrators)
- Ethnographic Observation
- Competitive Assessment
- Product Landscaping
- Device Tear-down
- Net Mining
Information >
Turn data into information through analysis and synthesis
- Workflow Mapping
- Use Case Scenarios
- Task Analysis
- Innovation Workshops
- Lifecycle Analysis
- Technology Assessment
Insight >
Engage the problems and their context to distill insights
- Data Consolidation Brainstorms:
Technical / User / Market / Feature / etc. - Concept Ideation and 2D Hand sketches
- Theme Identification
- Stakeholder Alignment
Opportunity
Transform insights into range of opportunities
- Product Visualizations
- 3D CAD Development
- Concept/Feature Prioritization
- Initial User Experience / GUI Exploration
- Long-term/Short-term Solution Mapping
- Conceptual Engineering
Infusion Systems must support patient ambulation
Patients who did 12 minutes of slow walking from the first to 2nd day were discharged approximately 2 days earlier than those who did not.
Length of Stay ss. Steps per day *1
- Early Ambulation and Length of Stay in Older Adults Hospitalized for Acute Illness
Faster Design Iterations though AR integration
Incorporating Augmented Reality for context, enhanced collaboration and downselection, and quicker prototype evaluation.
Remote Connection and Alerts
71% of nursing Professionals use a smartphone for their job -Wolters Kluwer Health
Utilizing nurses existing devices, or making specialized devices available, alerts could be sent through text message or specialized apps, also allowing for remote connection to the hospital pharmacy..Allowing devices to connect directly to nurses or nurse stations would give a huge benefit, without requiring full connection to a labor intensive backend EMR system.
Utilizing the wireless connection established by a modular IV system allows nurses to receive and explain detailed information, potentially resolving a treatment interruption, remotely. Centralized tablets could be located at nurse stations and could monitor multiple patients at once without needing to integrate into the EMR.
Integrated Pump
An integrated pump allows for a much more stable device, as well as much more effective use of space.
A 360 degree user interface and pump design allows for versatility in ICU’s and maximizes the space used
Integrated line management reduces connection errors and tangling, as well as automatically entering medication information
Lineset Identification
Smart linesets that are easily identifiable can help with tubing expiration, fluid management and tube set tangling.
Illumination of linesets, backlit screens with ‘night mode’ and possible light sensors could help manage systems in dark rooms, eliminating the need for nurses to get flashlights, or fumble in the dark, and allowing patients to rest.
Integrated Air Filter
Integrated inlet air elimination filters could reduce treatment interruptions, and ad value to a proprietary lineset
Wireless MicroPump
The micro-pump pushes size and connectivity to their current limits, with many advantages from a business, and user standpoint. The micro pump is small enough, and weighs little enough to hang directly onto a lineset. This helps speed of set up, and management. The Pump utilizes smart tubing with RFID capabilities to recognize drug type and volume. This eliminates the need to enter the information at the point of care, reducing errors and increasing speed to care. Medication can be labeled in a much less stressful environment at the hospital pharmacy, or at the manufacturer. A system this fast and reliable could even be used in emergency room situations. Because Medication type and volume can be entered in wirelessly, the only interaction required by the user is to set the rate, which can be done quickly using a side scroll wheel. Alternatively, barcode scanners could be integrated into the pump itself to enter patient and medication information.