WildDesign Intern Design Sprint
Single-Use Mentality in the Medical industry By Savio Mathew Mukachirayil
A high volume of landful and incintrated waste from single use devices are from the medical industry
research
Global market value is over
$11,000,000,000 for medical waste management
Poor Waste Management Has A Negative Impact On The Environment
Hazardous Materials Cannot Be Reused Or Recycled Single Use Devices
85%
30%
Packaging Tubes
Only
15%
Recyclable Laryngoscope is a common SUD found in one of the bins in the hospital Waste Is Incinerated The blade is mainly plastic but I found it in the When It's Put Inmetal bin. Bins containing mixed materials cannot be recycled. The Wrong Bin It is made up of plastic, metal and electronics.
Laryngoscopes Laryngoscopes Syringes
Average Hospital Waste Is Non-Regulated
Waste Is From The Operating Room
...
Medical Waste Is Actually Harzardous
What is it used for?
Shines light and acts as a guide to perform edoscopy for Larynx, a part of the throat leading to the lungs.
Laryngoscope What is it? A common single use device used by doctors in operation rooms to intubate the patient.
Why Laryngoscope? "I saw lots of laryngoscope plastic blades in the metal sharps bin and this didn't make sense to me."
How is it used? Helps the doctor locate the Larynx and guides the breathing tube for assissted ventilator breathing
User Journey Map
After opening, the blade is manouvered using its clear plastic packaing without making direct contact and is fixed onto the handle.
Laryngoscope comes packed with a battery and the blade is in a seperate packaging.
The handle is removed from the packaging.
The patient‘s position is adjusted to increase ease of procedure and decrease discomfort for the patient.
Having the battery already in the handle makes the process faster for me
The blade is carefully put into the throat making the Larynx visible.
Using their thumb and index finger they open the patient‘s mouth.
Not touching the blade helps me to maintain sterile practice
The type C battery is removed from the handle and is discarded. The handle is also discarded.
The LED in the handle turns on as soon as the handle is fixed to it.
Patient requires breathing assistance
Thoughts
The blade is seperated from the handle, and is placed into the metal sharps bin.
My view is blocked if the angle of the patient is not correct and can risk hurting the patient.
Using the side of the blade as a guide, the intubation tube is carefully placed into the trachea, establishing an open airway.
I have to grip the handle tightly and be careful inserting the blade into the throat, I do not want to cause discomfort
I have to be careful not to bash into the patient‘s teeth, it can cause discomfort or even break the teeth.
Without the tube the blade is removed from the patient‘s throat. Throwing the battery away seems like a big waste but this needs to be done for the good of the patients. You do not want your battery to run out during a procedure.
Seperating the handle and blade is easy but it's not clear which bin to use when the materials are mixed. It‘s easier and safer to throw it in the hazardous waste.
Value Proposition Map: User
Doctor
Value Proposition Map: Doctor
Patient has successful airflow
Job
Intubate the Patient
Manouver the Laryngoscope safely
Easy to slide in the intubation tube
Gains
Has a good angle to luminate the throat
Can see the throat very clearly
Sterile & Clean No worry of contamination
Don't have to get very close to the patient
Sterile Practice
Quick to discard after use Feeling good about the work
Be mindful of time Help the Environment
Looking Proffesional
Easy to manouver into patient's mouth
Easy to assemble the blade and handle
Looking confident
Be mindful of patient
Unsure on which bin to use for certain components of different materials
Doesn't seperate the different materials on blade, takes too much time
Upset the patient Wasteful feeling if tooth breaks when throwing or bleeding in away after using Other important throat occurs it once e.g. jobs to do than batteries organising waste Unware of the properly, busy Don't want to quanitity of schedule waste that builds cause damage to environment up over time
Pains
Embarresed to ask everyone to categorise waste accuretly. Patient could have a virus and user could catch it
Value Proposition Map: Doctor
Important Job
Patient has successful airflow
Job
Intubate the Patient
Manouver the Laryngoscope safely
Easy to slide in the intubation tube
Can see the throat very clearly
Intubate the Patient
Help the Environment
No worry of contamination
Easy to assemble the blade and handle
Unsure on which bin to use for certain components of different materials
Doesn't seperate the different materials on blade, takes too much time
Upset the patient Wasteful feeling if tooth breaks when throwing or bleeding in away after using Other important throat occurs it once e.g. jobs to do than batteries organising waste Unware of the properly, busy Don't want to quanitity of schedule waste that builds cause damage to environment up over time
Sterile Practice
Be mindful of patient
Looking confident
Be mindful of patient
Pains
Manouver the Laryngoscope safely
Sterile & Clean
Quick to discard after use
Be mindful of time
Essential Gains
Gains
Has a good angle to luminate the throat
Don't have to get very close to the patient
Sterile Practice
Feeling good about the work
Looking Proffesional
Easy to manouver into patient's mouth
Extreme Pains
Embarresed to ask everyone to categorise waste accuretly. Patient could have a virus and user could catch it
Other important jobs to do than organising waste properly, busy schedule
Unsure on which bin to use for certain components of different materials Wasteful feeling when throwing away after using it once
Be mindful of time
Feeling good about the work
Looking Proffesional
Help the Environment
Insignificant Job
Patient could have a virus and user could catch it Unware of the quanitity of waste that builds up over time
Patient has successful airflow Upset the patient if tooth breaks or bleeding in throat occurs
Doesn't seperate the different materials on blade, takes too much time
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Sterile & Clean Can see the throat very clearly
Easy to manouver into patient's mouth
Has a good angle to luminate the throat Easy to slide in the intubation tube Easy to assemble the blade and handle Quick to discard after use
Embarresed to ask everyone to categorise waste accuretly.
Moderate Pains
No worry of contamination Looking confident Don't have to get very close to the patient
Moderate Gains
Value Proposition Map: Doctor
Gains Creators
Patient has successful airflow
Job
Intubate the Patient
Manouver the Laryngoscope safely
Easy to slide in the intubation tube
Gains
Has a good angle to luminate the throat
Can see the throat very clearly
No worry of contamination
Help the Environment
Easy to assemble the blade and handle
Ergonomic form for comfortable hold and manouver
Seamless to assemble
Seamless to dissassemble
Ergonomic form to hold and manouver
Reusable electrical components
Looking confident
Rechargeable light source
Be mindful of patient
Unsure on which bin to use for certain components of different materials
Doesn't seperate the different materials on blade, takes too much time
Upset the patient Wasteful feeling if tooth breaks when throwing or bleeding in away after using Other important throat occurs it once e.g. jobs to do than batteries organising waste Unware of the properly, busy Don't want to quanitity of schedule waste that builds cause damage to environment up over time
Pains
Reusable Laryngoscope
Easy to recharge Quick to discard after use
Be mindful of time
Easy to slide tube into the trachea
Fully sterile and safe to use
Sterile & Clean
Don't have to get very close to the patient
Sterile Practice
Feeling good about the work
Looking Proffesional
Easy to manouver into patient's mouth
Embarresed to ask everyone to categorise waste accuretly. Patient could have a virus and user could catch it
Not required to dispose after every use, so no confusion with bins.
Reduced the amount of waste
Ergonomic form to not cause harm to patient Reduced waste being incinerated or going to landfill
Rechargeable powersupply Minimal variety of materials
Similar materials are used, less confusion for easier recycling
No electronic waste
Pain Relievers
Recyclable
Designinated area for intubation tube on Laryngoscope
Product
Value Proposition Map: User
Hospital
Value Proposition Map: Hospital
No worry of contamination with SUD
Gains Efficiently discard tools after use
Patient has successful airflow
Job
Sterile & clean practice
Healthy patient experience
Cost effective Long-term trust with patient
Confident staff Healthy staff experience
Make Profit Time efficient
Looking Proffesional
Effective services
Provide good instruments
Efficient services
Autoclaving (cleaning) machine are expensive
Don't want a bad reputation with the locals
Sterile Practice
Reduced disposal fees
Other important jobs to do than organising waste properly, busy schedule
laser marking (tracing) machines are expensive
Upset the patient
Pains
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Cleaning reusables takes time and addional staff
Value Proposition Map: Hospital
Important Job No worry of contamination with SUD
Sterile & clean practice
Healthy patient experience
Efficiently discard tools after use
Don't want a bad reputations with the locals
Effective services
Sterile practice
Patient has successful airflow Upset the patient
Long-term trust with patient
Make Profit Time efficient
Efficient services
Make Profit
Looking Proffesional
Autoclaving (cleaning) machines are expensive
Long-term trust with patient Laser marking (tracing) machines are expensive
Efficient services
Autoclaving (cleaning) machine are expensive
Don't want a bad reputation with the locals
Sterile Practice
Reduced disposal fees
Confident Staff
Cost effective
Effective services
Provide good instruments
Sterile & Clean practice
Cost effective
Confident staff Healthy staff experience
Essential Gains
Gains
Patient has successful airflow
Job
Extreme Pains
Other important jobs to do than organising waste properly, busy schedule
laser marking (tracing) machines are expensive
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Cleaning reusables takes time and addional staff
Healthy staff experience
Cleaning reusables takes time and addional staff Provide good intruments
Healthy patient experience
Upset the patient
Pains
Insignificant Job
Reduced disposal fees
Other important jobs to do than organising waste properly, busy schedule
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Moderate Pains
Time efficient
Efficiently discard tools after use No worry of contamination with SUD Looking proffesional
Moderate Gains
Value Proposition Map: Hospital
Gains Creators
No worry of contamination with SUD
Gains
Patient has successful airflow
Job
Sterile & clean practice
Healthy patient experience
Easy to clean after each use
Efficiently discard tools after use
Product Cost effective Long-term trust with patient
Confident staff Healthy staff experience
Seamless assembly and use
Make Profit Time efficient
Looking Proffesional
Good reputation, eco friendly
Minimal risk of contamination Mostly reusable laryngoscope
Long term savings, less new tools have to be bought frequently.
Subscription cleaning service
Effective services
Provide good instruments
Efficient services
Autoclaving (cleaning) machine are expensive
Don't want a bad reputation with the locals
Sterile Practice
Reduced disposal fees
Other important jobs to do than organising waste properly, busy schedule
laser marking (tracing) machines are expensive
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Cleaning reusables takes time and addional staff
Reduces landfill costs by reducing waste
Ergonomic form to reduce patient discomort
Upset the patient
Percieved as sustainable and caring institution by the locals
Not required to buy the expensive machines if service is hired externally
Comes back in new packaging and has unused appearance Reduced time spent on categorising waste Instrument used for a longer time
Not percieved as stingy
Pains
Pain Relievers
Patient
Value Proposition Map: Patient
Gains
Fast recovery Patient has successful airflow
Job
Good quality instruments being used Have sterile procedure
Cooperate with staff and hospital
Follow doctor's instructions
Having confident Long-term trust and comfortable with staff and/or workers hospital Feeling of safety Not spend much time in hospital
Be treated and feel better
Trust the health care institution
Feeling vulnerable
Discomfortable procedure
Want to go home earlier
Don't want to see a lot of blood
Feeling of embarressment
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Use of scary looking tools
Unfriendly staff
Pains
Recieving a sense of care
Value Proposition Map: Patient
Important Job
Job
Fast Recovery Feeling vulnerable
Follow doctor's instructions
Having confident Long-term trust and comfortable with staff and/or workers hospital Feeling of safety Not spend much time in hospital
Be treated and feel better
Trust the health care institution
Feeling vulnerable
Discomfortable procedure
Want to go home earlier
Don't want to see a lot of blood
Trust the health care institution
Feeling of embarressment Follow doctor's instructions, e.g. taking the correct medication
Having confident and comfortable workers Feeling of safety
Want to go home
Having sterile procedure Don't want to cause damage to environment
Cooperate wth Staff and hospital
Insignificant Job
Good quality instruments being used Not spend much time in hospital
Don't want to see blood
Use of scary looking tools
Pains
Recieving a sense of care
Unfriendly staff
Recieving a sense of care
Feeling of embarressment
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Unfriendly staff
Patient has successful airflow
Discomfortable procedure
Be treated and feel better
Good quality instruments being used Have sterile procedure
Cooperate with staff and hospital
Essential Gains
Gains
Fast recovery Patient has successful airflow
Extreme Pains
Use of scary looking tools
Moderate Pains
Long term trust with staff and/or hospital
Moderate Gains
Value Proposition Map: Patient
Gains Creators
Gains
Fast recovery Patient has successful airflow
Job
Good quality instruments being used Have sterile procedure
Cooperate with staff and hospital
Follow doctor's instructions
Having confident Long-term trust and comfortable with staff and/or workers hospital Feeling of safety Not spend much time in hospital
Be treated and feel better
Trust the health care institution
Feeling vulnerable
Discomfortable procedure
Want to go home earlier
Don't want to see a lot of blood
Minimum discomfort when going down the mouth
Seamless and easy to use
Minimum assembly required
Ergonomic form to reduce patient discomort
Don't want to cause damage to environment
Unfriendly staff
Pains
Minimal risk of contamination
Evironmentally responsible
Caring for environment
Recieving a sense of care
Feeling of embarressment
Use of scary looking tools
Seamless assembly and use
Discarded after each use
Brand new tool every time
Minimum variety of materials
Form decreases probability of cuts or damages being made Procedure made faster and easier
Pain Relievers
Ergonomic laryngoscope
Single Use Biodegradeable
Looks safe, soft design
Reduced damage to environment
Product
Redesign a laryngoscope which helps doctors very easily manouver comfortably into the patients throat and reduce the amount of incinerated plastic waste currently created.
Concept 1
Dissassembled for autoclave cleaning
Polished reflective metal
All parts completely re-used
Lightsource cannot be cleaned
Rechargeable lightsource
Seamless dissassembly
Prototyping Concept 1 Does an opened metal structure reflect enough light and luminate the pointed area well enough? Yes. The test piece is not curved and a curved structure can reduce the amount of light intensity, but its not polished, polishing it will increase the reflectivity.
Concept 1
Product-Use Journey Concept 1
The blade is attached to the 2nd component, fixing all components together.
The 2nd component is pressed and fixed onto the handle
The three cleaned components arrive in seperate plastic packagings The handle is pushed down onto the charger and attaches the lightsource inside
Without removing the tube, the laryngoscope is removed from the patient's mouth
The blade and tube is put into the patient's throat and is intubated
The blade, 2nd component and the handle is sent for autoclave cleaning
The handle is detached from the other components
The handle is pushed down onto the charger and the light source detaches and attaches onto the charger
Concept 2
Dissassembled for autoclave cleaning
Lightsource cannot be cleaned
Fibre optic connected to lightsource
Light from the fibre optic shines through the thin blade material
Three main seperate components
Blade made of (PLA) biodegradeable material
Prototyping Concept 2 Does enough light pass through the plastic material to luminate the area pointed at? Yes. The test piece is 3mm thick, making it thinner would allow a lot more light to pass through.The colour will be tinted by the colour of the medium it passes through.
Concept 2
Product-Use Journey Concept 2 The handle halves are closed keeping the lightsource inside.
The blade is brand new and the cleaned handle comes packaged. The lightsource is charged.
The handle is opened and pushed into the chargers and attaches onto the lightsource.
The optical fibre is pushed into the PLA blade and the blade fixes onto the handle.
Without removing the tube, the laryngoscope is removed from the patient's mouth
The blade and tube is put into the patient's throat and is intubated.
The handle is opened and sent for autoclave cleaning.
The blade is disposed.
The handle is detached from the blade.
The handle is opened and pushed into the charger and detaches the lightsource.
Concept 3 Small parts are hazardous Steam-bent wood
Single Use Phosphorescent material
Biodegradeable
Research Biodegreadble phosphorescent material is a technology still being developed. Nyoka is a start-up developing the reusable and biodegradeable glow sticks by studying bioluminescence: self luminating living organanisms.
www.lightbynyoka.com (accessed 2020)
Since laryngoscopes are placed into the throat, it is important for safe chemicals to be used.
Concept 3
Product-Use Journey Concept 3
The handle and blade are attached together
The blade and tube is put into the patient's throat and is intubated.
The blade and handle are new.
Without removing the tube, the laryngoscope is removed from the patient's mouth
The blade is disposed.
The handle is detached from the blade.
Form I have decided to move forward and develop 'Cocept 2' as this currently has most potenital, cheaper than option 1 and the technology is more available than option 3.
The drill is very comfortable to hold and its shaped so that it naturally guides the user to hold it in a particular way. The largest dimension in the cross section of the handle is 60mm from one side to another side. When the hand-drill is being used, it is kept in a stable position and is not in motion so comfortable and "almost locked" grip is neccessary When I held it upside down I noticed there was more stress on my forewarm and less on my biceps as more effort was required to grip the handle.
Ergonomics
01
How the laryngoscopes are currently held to identify areas of improvement for better ergonomics
02
05
03
04
06
07
The Laryngoscope is held in various positions, especially compared to the hand drill, good form-design should not restrict the freedom of rotation for the user in this case. Which means the form of the handle should have a minimal approach. The height of the elbow and the angle at the wrist varies. The position of the fingers and thump does not vary much. The finger positions on images 01 and 07 seems lower and almost touches the blade. Images 01 and 07 is showing the laryngoscope being put in and out respectively. For this motion, a lower hold will allow more control as its closer to the centre of mass. So shifting the centre of mass away from the blade will allow more control from a higher position Holding the handle higher up will give you a higher range of motion for less discomfort compared to holding it lower.
Screenshots made from Dr. Gallagher's Neighborhood YouTube video. Available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJtFb7lGPic&t=523s
Moodboard
Form Development Sketches
Ergonomics
An eliptical cross-section would provide most comfort whilst allowing easy manouvering and not limiting the range of motions for the user.
I did rough cuts to get a better understanding of dimensions, keeping in mind the diameter of a type C battery is 28mm for an approximate dimension for the light source.
The ideal dimensions are 30mm in width and 35mm in length.
Final Design Development
Final Design
Light shines through the blade but the light source makes no contact with the patient and is completely sealed allowing its reuse.
Seamless Assembly
1
2
3
4
5
6
User pushes the clips apart with their thumb
Guides
Soft edges for patient comfort
Guide for easy intubation
Guide for thumb and fingers for user comfort whilst allowing room for easy manouvering
Components
Hinge
Easy and cleanable reusable stainless steel body
Optical Fibre
Single-use disposal biodegradeable PLA blade Reusable Lightsource
WildDesign Intern Design Sprint
Single-Use Mentality in the Medical industry By Savio Mathew Mukachirayil