Design by Example: A Web-based Tool for Context-Driven

Biomedical Device Design

Rachel DzombakKhanjan Mehta

Peter ButlerHumanitarian Engineering & Social Entrepreneurship

Penn State University

HESE: Humanitarian Engineering & Social Entrepreneurship (HESE)

80% donated - 96% not in use after 5 yrs

“A hospital found it easier to request a new oxygen concentrator from their European sponsor then to spend the $5 to repair the concentrator they owned .”

- Robert Malkin, Engineering World

Health

Mashavu: Networked Health Solutions

Mashavu: Networked Health Solutions

PatientPatient

KioskKiosk

Biomedical DevicesBiomedical DevicesHealthcare

ProfessionalHealthcare

Professional

Pilot Testing in Kenya – 193 Patients/month

Need low-cost devices to collect physiological information

Devices/Sensors must be rugged and robust

Less than $10 per device in steady-state production

Need to be able to withstand high use and require minimal repairs

SIMPLEBottom Line is that the devices should be

easy to use and sustainable

System must be designed for Community Health WorkersDesign for low computer literacy

BIOE 401 – Junior Design

Using Examples for Context-Driven Design

Design By Example

Design Families

System Integration Context Hardware Software Device

Testing Manufacturing

Design Families

Tech Interface

Socio-cultural

System Integration Context Hardware Software Device

Testing Manufacturing

User Interface

C2CForm Factor

Legal/Regulatory

Price Point

Physiology

Ethical Issues

Safety

Calibration

Anthropo-metric

COMSOL

Materials

Signal Analysis

User Experience

Testing Physical Environment

Quality Control

System Integration Price Point

Software User Interface

Hardware COMSOL Multiphysics

Context Safety

Manufacturing Quality Control

Device Testing Legal/Regulatory

159 Examples

54 students

Pulse Oximeter Baby ScaleWeighing Scale Spirometer Calibration

Blood Pressure ENT Scope Stethoscope Thermometer

Assessment

1. While creating biomedical devices for resource-constrained environments, examples provide students with starting points for design space exploration by making them aware of pertinent factors for consideration.

2. The design tool enables students to have articulate a well-informed rationale backing every decision made during the design process.

3. The design tool facilitates structured documentation of design decisions and design evolution over time.

Assessment – Initial Results

Focus Groups• Brainstorming • Examples• Past Experiences • Team Work• Empathy

RFC: Request for Collaborators