Abbott Laboratories, a global leader in medical devices and healthcare, partnered with Speck Design to innovate in treating vascular diseases. The project revolved around redesigning the stent delivery system to enhance its functionality, ergonomics, and user interface, ultimately aiming to improve patient care and outcomes.
In the realm of industrial design, our task was to reimagine the stent delivery system, enhancing its usability for surgeons. We prioritized a compact design that allowed for low-force operation and greater accuracy. Our design process involved an in-depth analysis of the ergonomic needs of surgeons, leading to a design that was not only more efficient but also significantly easier to use. By integrating user feedback into our design process, we were able to tailor the device to better meet the needs of its primary users, ensuring that each aspect of the design was optimized for real-world medical scenarios.
The mechanical engineering challenge was to innovate the internal mechanism of the stent delivery system to accommodate stents up to 180mm in length. Our team meticulously worked on the mechanics of the device, focusing on reducing recoil, rigid operation, and improving stent deployment. The result was a more refined, precise mechanism that allowed for smoother action and reduced the likelihood of complications during surgery. Our engineering efforts ensured the device was not only more effective but also more reliable, setting a new standard in vascular surgical tools.
Our user research was pivotal in guiding the redesign of the stent delivery system. We conducted extensive studies with healthcare professionals to understand their challenges and needs during surgical procedures. This research provided valuable insights into how the device could be improved to better serve its end-users. By focusing on the human aspect of device usage, we were able to identify key areas for ergonomic and functional improvements, leading to a design that was both user-friendly and highly effective in clinical settings.