HeartAttach: Guidewire separator
- Submitting institution
-
University of Ulster
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 76400778
- Type
- P - Devices and products
- Location
- China / Sweden
- Manufacturer
- WellTech Mold
- Open access status
- -
- Month of production
- January
- Year of production
- 2019
- URL
-
https://ulster.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/REF2021/EVNrRZttdshCpSv_cUuBn3oB1L-IT4gzdR7n9ynXFjhDnQ?e=GpkWFb
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
2
- Research group(s)
-
B - Art, Design & Health
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This design for health research demonstrates how product design can interrogate and improve surgical workflows where medical errors are evident. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is the procedure where stents are inserted into heart blood vessels (arteries) with narrowings that limit the flow of blood. To facilitate the passage of a stent into the coronary artery in every case the operator inserts a precise tactile responsive coronary guidewire, measuring from 0.33mm (1F) in diameter. In complex situations (30-40% of cases) multiple wire insertions are required (90,000-120,000 operations per year). The design problem that arises is that the wires, regardless of manufacturer, look very similar in appearance making it difficult to see (and recall) which wire is in which blood vessel. Furthermore, guidewires inside human vessels are viewed using angiographs which are greyscale, live-streamed x-rays as the imaging equipment rotates around the patient’s body, in dim light environments. This cognitive clutter and uncertainty of wire proximity can lead to medical errors. Through observation analysis of surgical procedures, a comprehensive understanding of the issues was gained. A systematic patent search was conducted and from the eight shortlisted related devices, only two were directly relevant (Teirstein et al, 2013 and Mailhot Jr., 2007). These are like the recently approved invention by VB Devices in functional concept (Vascular News, 2020).
An innovative product was iteratively developed under critical review and functional testing by two consultant cardiologists. Novel features were defined permitting an uninterrupted workflow across a range of procedures and equipment while achieving cognitive decluttering and improved organisation and hygiene. This live case study visually identifies individual guidewire proximity, without inhibiting the operative procedure nor distorting the guidewires. It permits one hand relocation and full control of the guidewire while the device is in use, which is a significant advantage over existing approaches.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -