How user experience can help with device re-design

Chinese medical manufacturer, Arahelio asked IDC (Industrial Design Consultancy) to redesign one of its disposable electric surgical pens. Arahelio recognised the opportunity to develop a new device which offered the same good value but with new features to make it more appealing to medical staff.

Arahelio worked with IDC’s design team in Shangha. YiFei Dai, IDC China’s MD commented: “A major focus of innovation for mature products is how to achieve a new product with a superior user experience. We have to truly understand user needs so we can modify the product in the best possible way - we do this through a thorough process of research.”

The disposable electric surgical pen is used during surgical operations to cut and cauterise human tissue, and consists of a pen-like shape with a tip, handle, and connecting cable for electrical heating. The first stage of the redesign involved ergonomic research, so the team could understand areas of priority to improve the performance of the device. This research took place in the hospital, observing surgical procedures and by interviewing medical staff.

IDC’s team identified ways that the device could be improved. Feedback from surgeons suggested the cutting devices were prone to sticking to bodily tissues when cutting, causing an unpleasant burning smell. The team explored special high-temperature biochemical coatings and selected a high-conductivity, non-stick coating that offered a better non-stick blade solution than Teflon. This coating greatly reduced adhesion and odour problems.

The ergonomic styling also needed to be addressed to make it more comfortable and better balanced during use. IDC’s designers developed a shape that could be well supported in the hand while rotating at different angles, with materials that gave sufficient friction to prevent slipping.

IDC also created a special structural design for the device, making the cutting tool free to be adjusted and extended according to the type of tissue it was cutting.

As the device is disposable, IDC explored safety options to avoid re-use. Currently, there is nothing to prevent disposable electric pens from being reused, so the team developed a new feature within the electronics to block electrical current after 7-8 hours of operation.