Designing for Life: Human Factors Engineering in Medical Device Design

Contributor - Bhavana Ramesh
October 28, 2024
6 min read

In the world of healthcare, the stakes are high, and the equipment often makes all the difference. While a well-designed medical device might appear as a triumph of engineering or technology, it’s actually the result of a careful blend of science, observation, and psychology known as human factors engineering. This practice, also referred to as ergonomics, digs deep into the relationships between humans and their tools to enhance safety, efficiency, and comfort. And in medicine, the implications can be nothing short of life-saving.

The Human Side of Medical Design

Ergonomics might evoke images of comfy chairs and well-positioned keyboards, but in healthcare, it’s an entirely different story. Human factors engineering considers how medical professionals interact with equipment, striving to reduce the potential for error while improving overall system performance. The goal is to optimize medical devices not just for usability but for all the nuanced, unpredictable scenarios that arise in real-life medical practice.

The roots of human factors in medicine go back over a century. Picture the invention of the scrub nurse—a role created to assist surgeons by passing instruments, streamlining procedures, and reducing the time spent searching for tools. It was an early victory for human factors, emphasizing the importance of fitting tools and systems to the users. Today, this approach goes beyond surgical theaters and extends into the design of nearly every piece of medical equipment.

When Usability Engineering Meets Medicine

Modern hospitals are buzzing with gadgets and devices that look deceptively straightforward, but each of them has been shaped by an extensive process of usability engineering. This process aims to make medical equipment intuitive and safe to use. Take the meek anesthetic trolley: while the task of delivering anesthesia is standard practice, the interaction between the anesthetist and the machine can be anything but predictable. Each click, knob twist, or screen touch has been scrutinized to ensure that even in high-stress situations, the equipment performs reliably.

However, designing medical equipment is not simply a matter of making things user-friendly; it’s about understanding the critical context in which these tools will be used. Whether it’s the tricky angles involved in intubation or the countless variables that can arise during airway management, each element of design is fine-tuned to align with the specific needs of medical professionals. The result? Equipment that not only works but works when it truly matters.

The Power of Observational Research: Taking Design to the Field

Designing for real-world medical scenarios demands more than just lab tests and focus groups. That’s where observational research comes in—a method where human factors specialists trade their white coats for scrubs and venture directly into the chaotic, unpredictable environments where medical devices will be used. By observing clinicians in action, ergonomists uncover a myriad of subtle factors that can impact the success of a device.

Picture an ergonomist watching an intubation procedure. They’re not just checking if the tube goes down smoothly; they’re noting the clinician’s posture, the alignment of the equipment, the challenges posed by different patient anatomies, and even the interplay between the doctor and the surrounding staff. These nuanced details, often overlooked in controlled settings, can reveal crucial insights that lead to design improvements. It’s the difference between a tool that merely functions and one that truly supports a clinician’s work.

Beyond the Device: A Systems Approach to Safety

The safety and effectiveness of medical devices don’t hinge solely on the equipment itself. As much as we’d like to create an unsinkable ship, healthcare is a complex web of policies, processes, and training. Errors in the use of medical devices are rarely due to a single mistake; rather, they stem from multiple factors within the system. It’s the classic “Swiss cheese model” of failure—each layer of defense has its own holes, and when they align, errors can slip through.

To mitigate this, usability engineering considers not only how devices are used but how they fit within broader organizational practices. This includes everything from how a piece of equipment integrates into a hospital’s workflow to how policies support or hinder proper usage. For instance, ensuring that staff are well-trained on the latest devices or that hospital protocols account for the unique capabilities of new equipment can make a profound difference in patient outcomes.

The Role of Simulation: Preparing for the Unexpected

Incorporating simulation training into the usability process adds another layer of safety, allowing clinicians to practice with devices under controlled conditions that mimic real-world scenarios. This training often includes not just the typical “everything goes as planned” cases but also abnormal situations, such as equipment malfunction or unusual patient presentations. By exposing healthcare professionals to a range of potential challenges, designers can gather insights that guide further device refinements. It’s akin to giving pilots flight simulators before they get behind the controls of an actual aircraft.

The feedback loop between design, training, and real-world use creates a continuous cycle of improvement, ensuring that devices evolve alongside medical practices. After all, the best medical equipment doesn’t just perform—it anticipates.

Medical Device Design: A Collaborative Effort

Creating medical equipment is a team sport, involving everyone from engineers and ergonomists to doctors and nurses. This collaboration is key, as it combines the expertise of each field to design tools that are not only technologically sound but also practical for everyday use in clinical environments. It’s not about merely building a better gadget; it’s about building a safer healthcare ecosystem where technology seamlessly supports human skills and decision-making.

Human factors engineering ensures that medical device design goes beyond aesthetics or function. It’s about crafting tools that are as adaptable and resilient as the people who use them. It’s about reducing friction in high-stakes environments, where every second counts. It’s about recognizing that while machines and algorithms may be precise, medicine is still a profoundly human endeavor.

At Bang Design, we understand that human factors engineering is more than a design philosophy—it’s a commitment to improving lives. We partner with healthcare professionals to create medical devices that anticipate the needs of clinicians and patients alike. Some of the products we have designed and developed like Suretouch and Elisar have redefined what medical devices can be. If you’re looking to develop medical equipment that blends cutting-edge technology with the art of human-centered design, let’s talk.

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