We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Alasdair Barnett about their original and creative Colonoscopy device design work. Alasdair Barnett is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original colonoscopy device works.
Alasdair Barnett ("AB") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work EndoCuff Colonoscopy device. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
AB : The main source of inspiration came through the practical difficulties in a conventional colonoscopy, including the colonoscope slipping back, the forces required to push can be quite high causing patient discomfort, the tip can move during procedure and is difficult to stabilise and current scopes can miss legions that hide behind colon folds and there is no way to view behind folds. These factors created the design challenge that DesignEdge needed to meet on a technical and aesthetic level, effectively these medical problems were the basis to the inspiration and an eventual solution.
AB : The main focus was to design and develop an innovative disposable device that slips onto the end of conventional colonoscopes to improve mucosal vision and enhance tip control. With sixty million procedures worldwide this innovative product will revolutionise detection rates within cancer screening.
AB : We are currently exploring various markets and future product derivatives. We will contunue to find simple and effective solutions to everyday problems in medical endoscopy.
AB : Approximately 2 years.
AB : The work was commissioned. After the preliminary testing phase we focused on a design that utilised flexible hairs to grip the side of the colon wall. The collapsible hairs fall flush with the EndoCuff maximising user comfort whilst the device is inserted. The tip hairs fold in to be as small as possible during insertion and while the colonoscope is forced forward. When the scope is extracted the hairs then open out enabling the surgeon to view the colon wall behind the folds whilst the scope is being slowly extracted.
AB : Arc Medical Design manufacture and market EndoCuff.
AB : DesignEdge specialises in the design of simple and effective medical devices for high volume manufacture. DesignEdge offers a complete design and engineering service to both local and national companies, taking designs through from initial sketches all the way to manufacture.
AB : Early research explored the natural world including animal skins and fish scales for forward friction traction. Hydroscopic and nano-coatings were explored to improving colonscope movement.
AB : Patients that require a colonoscopy procedure.
AB : EndoCuff is a unique and innovative device.
AB : We need a name to reflective the twin values of medical endoscopy and a device to fit the end of a colonoscope.
AB : SolidWorks 3D CAD Software, SolidWorks Simulations
AB : EndoCuff features soft flexible projections which gently support the tip of the colonoscope in the centre of the colonic lumen during extubation so providing greater stability and reducing sudden slip back and juddering. This also reduces looping and patient discomfort and pain. The projections evert large folds and flatten small folds so that significantly more mucosa can be visualised with ease. Experienced colonoscopists can use the flexible arms to manipulate folds, polyps and debris to gain a better view without losing vision.
AB : Arc Medical Design, founded in 2007, the company has built a team of key medical opinion leaders as well as experts in medical design, manufacture, finance, regulation and marketing. It takes ideas through the complex processes of development, manufacture and regulatory hurdles to a marketing and distribution network that covers the World. Boddingtons Plastics a specialist in developing technical medical mouldings for volume manufacture.
AB : EndoCuff’s unique industrial design uses advanced polymer technology to provide a rigid support structure combined with flexible projections which gently open the colon wall. Each soft projection moves independently, rotating on a hinge at its base providing an improved position for a panoramic view. During forward motion the hairs fall flush with the body of the Endocuff so forward motion is not hindered. The design language reflects a compact, high quality, technically detailed device suitable for the medical environment.
AB : Materials were fundamental to the success of the project and explored super stretchy silicon materials, friction levels of rubber and hard soft material balance. Supplier research and selection was key to the project success as was meeting medical ethics and regulations. Early practical test were conducted using pig colons using a custom designed test jig to simulate the human colon.
AB : The challenge was to create a simple, flexible retrofit cap to improve the colonoscopy procedure in terms of visibility, detection, speed (it is currently a 25-30 minute procedure) and patient comfort. The product also had to be able to attach to a number of colonoscope sizes and be mass produced.
AB : We are keen to promote the EndoCuff device and bring it to the attention of design leaders.
AB : The technical challenges and regulatory requirements of the design and development of new products for medical endoscopy.
