Ultra-A
6 WEEKS / HARMONIC SCALPEL
When- 2019.07
What- Medical company internship project
Where- Sonoscape, Shenzhen
Ultra-A is a surgical instrument set used to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue. Ultra-A utilize ultrasonic vibrations instead of electric current to cut and cauterize tissue.
DESIGN PROMPT
Strive for ultimate ergonomics, also a better expression of comfort.
There has always been a lot of competition in the medical supplies market for harmonic scalpels. Sonoscape ready to entered the Red Sea as a newcomer, hoping to provide surgeons with a better surgical experience, through a better handheld device, and a more humanized experience.
Handle
Generator
Station
Ultra-A
01
HANDLE.
Like a part of surgeon's hand
Any medical device used in a life-critical situation must be perfectly designed for the doctor to manipulate at will and without concern for the device itself.
CURRENT COMPETITORS
Any medical device used in a life-critical situation must be perfectly designed for the doctor to manipulate at will and without concern for the device itself.
Olympus
Sonicision™ Cordless
Price point: 1000-2000 RMB
Weight:
Heavier, Weight towards the main body.
Form:
Steep angled grip, better hand grubbing.
Surface:
Bumps texture on the side, relax finger and increase grip force.
Cons:
The elliptical rim on the trigger constrain doctors finger movements.
Price point: 1000-1200 RMB
Weight:
Light, weight towards the front.
Form:
Avoiding use cord, reduce the dangerous caused by cord winding, tripping.
Surface:
Slippery, small grip, more chance for slippery.
Cons:
The grip the on the scalpel is really tiny and the over-all form of the scalpel is geometric. These increased the possibility of slippery in the middle of the surgery.
JNJ Ethicon G300/ Gen4
Price point: 1100-1300 RMB
Market analysis:
JNJ Ethicon has occupied almost 95% of the market share of harmonic scalpel.
Weight:
Light, weight towards front.
Form:
More organic, fits surgeon's hand in most of the world.
Surface:
Slightly textured coded, dull. Increased the gripping force.
Cons:
Manufacturing cost is low, the two buttons on the front are very loose, leads to mis-operation by the surgeon.
The front knob has large resistance. Fatigue when pushing it with the index finger for a long time.
LigaSure Impact™ Curved Large
Price point: 1100-1300 RMB
Weight:
Light, weight towards both the front and the grip.
Form:
Angle on palm part is not deep, less secure and stable.
Move the cord part towards the grip, more constrain on operations.
Surface:
Slippery, skinning grip, chance for slippery.
Cons:
The elliptical rim on the trigger constrain doctors finger movements.
Cord attach to the end of the grip cause more danger on operations.
USER INSIGHT
We work closely around surgeons, to find their various needs in surgery. The final design must be rigorous and easy for doctors to use, meeting both physiological and psychological needs.
Finger Fatigue
Cutting blood vessels for up to 2 to 3 hours can cause fatigue and stiffness in the index finger, which is used for rotating the rotary shaft.
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Perspiration and Gloves friction
The sweat of the hands in the gloves will cause the doctor to make minor errors in the operation of the instrument. At the same time, the material of the instrument needs to have good friction with the glove to increase the gripping force in the doctor's hand.
More sensitive feedbacks
The surgical instrument is like an extended finger of the surgeon. Every micro manipulation of the instrument should give the doctor good feedback, so that the doctor can respond in a short time.
DESIGN PROCESS
Hand-held devices must be designed as if they are a part of the doctor's own hand. Given that some surgeries can last 10 hours or more, devices must not cause the doctor any undue stress or fatigue.
Exploring a total different hand held experience.
What if in different form and way of usage.
Forms in different way
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Different color ways and branding message
PROTOTYPE TESTING
Since the products are used around the world, it has to be ensured that the universal designs would suit almost any size of hand. Numerous mockups were created to incorporate minor adjustments, understanding that a perfect design requires a delicate balance of features.
Making different forms of 1:1 3D models for surgeon to test with.
EVERY DESIGN FEATURE IS SIGNIFICANT.
Index finger rotate knob
Turning knob that adjust the angle of the scalpel's hand.
Max/Min power control
Two buttons that adjust the cutting power.
Alternative thumb rotate knob
Once surgeon's index finger got tired, they could use their thumb to adjust scalpel's angle.
Cutting trigger
Surgeon will press this to apply force to cut human tissue and vessel.
02
GENERATOR.
Delivery for greater precision and efficiency.
A versatile solution that eliminates the need for multiple generators in hospital by integrating today's most common forms of energy into a single platform.
COMPETITOR
Sonoscape work closely around surgeons, to find their various needs in surgery. The final design must be rigorous and easy for doctors to use, meeting both physiological and psychological needs.
Innolcon Y16-E
COMPLETE Ethicon GEN 11
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY GEN 11
Price point: 1000-2000
Weight:
Heavy, it always requires a cart to carry it around.
Form:
Simple, less sharp point and corner.
Surface:
The white surface is filled with textured paint to give different touch sense.
Cons:
The functional part on screen distribution is irrational. Where logo take the most space?
Price point: 1000-2000
Weight:
Lighter, It has a handle so it can be carried around.
Form:
Steep angled, it has sharp angle on the edge.
Surface:
The combination of smooth and textured.
Cons:
The plug are easy to ripped and damaged due to it's angle.
Price point: 1000-2000
Weight:
Heavier, Weight towards the main body.
Form:
Steep angled grip, better hand grubbing.
Surface:
Bumps texture on the side, relax finger and increase grip force.
Cons:
The elliptical rim on the trigger constrain doctors finger movements.
Valleylab™ LS10 Generator
Price point: 1000-2000
Weight:
Heavier, Weight towards the main body.
Form:
Steep angled grip, better hand grubbing.
Surface:
Bumps texture on the side, relax finger and increase grip force.
Cons:
The elliptical rim on the trigger constrain doctors finger movements.
DESIGN PROCESS
Operating devices must be designed to not cause any obstacles while operating complex procedure. The form should be soft to cause less harm and welcoming on visual under a stressful enviornment.
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The handpiece should share some similar form language to make the two unified.
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03
Station.
Compact and Efficient.
A transporting compact cart that facilitates surgeons and assistance under longer duration of operation.
