Summarising the research
In order to understand who is involved in what stage of the cardiac diagnosis process, two types of user research were used. Interviews were held with paramedics to understand their motives and opportunities. Besides interviewing the paramedics, a second user research method was used. Shadowing is a research method whereby the paramedics will be followed for a specified time. In this case different paramedics were followed for ten hours. During these ten hours, the paramedics were observed and analyzed during the patient treatment. Check out the research movie that was created after shadowing and interviewing the paramedics for over ten hours. . In the first week of the project we, 12 first year master students of the Advanced Product Design program, visited the local paramedic station. After doing field and desk research, the following insights were found and used as a starting point for the ideation phase.
Creative exploration
Ideation sessions can be done in many ways. Educated as an industrial designer, sketching is in my case the quickest way to shape and visualise ideas. The sketches were made by hand, scanned in and later edited in photoshop. Digital tools, results are shown in the second and third picture, were used to quickly change form and proportion.
Sketches are usefull till a certain extend. In many cases I tend to quickly prototype the most promising ideas. This will not only give me, but also other people around me a better base for discussions. Many of these quick prototypes were made with scrap material.
After the conceptualization phase, a decision was made to build the prototype 1:1. Autostudio Alias was used to model the product in 3D. The 3D file was used as a starting point for modelbuilding. To create a 1:1 model of this product, several modelbuilding techniques were used. During this process two different CNC milling machines, a handmill, drills and sanding machines were used. In total, the main body of the defibrillator exists of 14 parts. This includes the main body, the screen, handle, buttons, covers and a battery pack. 14 parts was the minimum amount of parts that could have been used to avoid undercuts and correct splitplines.
Cardiacstart- There when you need it!
CardiacStart is a new way of accurately acquire an electrocadiograph (ECG) of patients. The use of wireless ECG electrodes is making it able to acquire an ECG twice as fast. The self sensing electrodes are making existing wires useless, which results in a less busy workspace around the patient. The main body, which includes a defibrillator, has a detachable monitor. When there is a less severe case (priority 2), the paramedic can carry the light ECG monitor to acquire an ECG. By replacing the printer, which is used in the current situation to print ECG’s, with a screen, the weight can be reduced with 2 kg.
A versatile main defibrillator body
The main body of the defibrillator can be held vertically with an integrated handle during carrying. It includes two orange buttons which can be pushed to detach the ECG-monitor or the battery. There is an option to attach a strap to the main body as well. The strap can be attached above the orange button, shown below, and at the bottom of the product. For long distance walks or when the paramedic is busy and uses both hands, the strap is a usefull feature.
User interface
The user interface of the detachable screen replaces the printer that is used nowadays because it’s using the same measurements as the printed ECG. An integrated keyboard makes it able for the paramedic to fill in the patient details faster then the current situation. The keyboard can also be used to write comments which can be send to the cardiologist. Besides filling in patient details and reviewing the ECG results, the user interface includes software that supports the paramedic during CPR and breathing assistence. A CPR assistence bar that goes up and down, beeps and voice assistence are examples of the supporting software.
Self sensing ECG-electrodes
Time management is crucial for paramedics, especially when a patient experiences chest discomfort. In every wireless ECG-electrode, a sensor is embedded that communicates with other activated wireless ECG-electrodes. This means all of the ten pads are communicating in the ecg-electrode placement stage of the cardiac diagnosis process with each other to determine their place on their body. Self sensing ECG-electrodes are needed in order to save seconds. It will take a paramedic longer to find the a specific ECG-electrode and place it on the body.
