DESIGN NAME: Spirocco
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Medical device
INSPIRATION: As of 2011, 235–330 million people worldwide are affected by asthma. Many of the patients who use asthma inhalers use it the wrong way: either the amount of medicine leaving the can is insufficient, or the patient doesn't inhale it well. The right way of using the inhaler is not so trivial. It is a matter of synchronisation between pushing the button and inhaling. It is something that the user has to learn. Our goal was to dedesign and develop a device that helps this learning process. The final design goal was to design a supernormal accessory that fits into the line of medical devices, thus not scaring away users but inviting people who might better keep a distance from new technologies.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Spirocco is a smart inhaler device, which is an additional element attached to a standard inhaler. The device helps the user to learn how deliver the prescribed amount of medication with the inhaler. Spirocco can tell whether the amount of medication and the timing of the inhaling was sufficient or not. The user can review historical data and trends, and can share it with the doctors. The technology behind is streamlined: Spirocco registers pushes and measures changes in air pressure around the medication can, inside the inhaler. Based on this measurement and pre-uploaded medical practice data, it can calculate medication particle flow, and inhaled amount of medication.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Spirocco is attached to a standard inhaler device. During the process, the user operates the inhaler through the Scirocco. The user launches the medication flow by pushing the upper unit of Scirocco. The user can review historical data and trends via a smartphone app. The doctor can review such data on a cloud-based platfrom via web application. The device gives automatic advices to the user on how the use his or her inhaler properly. The systems also allows doctors to give direct advice to his or her patients.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: 2016-2017 in Budapest
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: It was really important to make Spirocco compatible with standard inhalers. To do so, we 3D printed (FDM) prototypes during the design process. We then tried these on to different types of inhalers and tested functionality. For first phase user testing we used 50-piece SLS 3D printing. For clinical testing, a 200-piece moulded ABS batch is on the way.
Final product is realised with plastic injection moulding technology, of medical grade ABS plastic.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Width 10 mm x Depth 20 mm x Height 40 mm
TAGS: iot, medical device, smart device, inhaler device
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Maform design team conducted a thorough research about inhaler medical devices; field study and client interviews were conducted. Market research was done by closely inspecting previous models and competitors' products. Ergonomics was tested continuously throughout the design process.
CHALLENGE: The development of an ergonomic shape for the product which suits the standard inhaler devices was the biggest challenge. Most of the patients have to use the device on a daily basis. Therefore, the designers had to create an appearance that complies with this requirement.
ADDED DATE: 2018-02-16 17:35:59
TEAM MEMBERS (3) : Adam Molnar, Peter Molnar and Robert Kovacs
IMAGE CREDITS: Maform Design Studio, 2017.
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