Ergonomic Laryngoscope
In partnership with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
Project Type. Product Design, UX Research, Physical Prototyping, CAD Modeling
Project Brief. The goal of this project was to design an ergonomic handle for the laryngoscope, focusing on comfort and ease of use for healthcare providers during intubation procedures.
Project Overview. The ergonomic laryngoscope handle design project aimed to revolutionize the intubation process by prioritizing user comfort, usability, and patient safety. Through thoughtful design and collaboration with healthcare professionals, the project sought to create a handle that empowers providers and enhances patient care.
Project Outcome. This project was presented to Key Stakeholders from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford d.school.
FUNCTION
The laryngoscope is a medical device commonly used during intubation procedures to assist in placing a breathing tube into the trachea. It typically consists of a handle with a light source and a blade that is inserted into the mouth to provide a clear view of the airway.
DESIGN PROCESS
Simplified Sketch Analysis
These sketches highlight postural issues, forces acting on the person and the reaction forces, and tissue compression.
Hierarchical Task Analysis
Next we conducted a HTA to better understand the function of the laryngoscope.
Anthropometrics
To begin, we started with an HTA to better understand the function of the laryngoscope.
Concept Sketches
Prototyping
USABILITY TESTING I
Usability Testing
Metrics Used. We utilized RULA to evaluate posture and other biomechanical issues of our designs + a Hand and Wrist Pain self assessment survey that users will fill out to indicate pressure points or other discomfort they feel while using the prototypes.
​Early Stage Feedback. We tested our prototypes on 3 users, all of whom were familiar with the design and functionality of the laryngoscope. Richard, Brandon, and Alex each tested all 8 prototypes, giving detailed feedback.​
What Worked.
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"This one is more comfortable for the thumb"
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Appreciated for thumb comfort and grip
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Natural wrist position
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Less Strain on Palm
What Didn't.​
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"Grip is a little tight"
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"I could see how it could be improved for my hand by making divots more spread out"
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"Some contact between my fingers"
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“I don’t like the divots”
Summary.
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Design #1. Among the prototypes explored, Design #1 emerged as the best in terms of comfort and usability. It seems to have struck the right balance between ergonomic features and user needs, making it the preferred choice among our test subjects.
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Divots in design. Feedback indicated that the divots present in some of our designs did not contribute positively to user experience. In fact, they may have detracted from the overall comfort and usability of the designs due to varying finger/hand sizes.
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Variability in Hand Sizes. A significant challenge identified was the discomfort caused by large differences in hand sizes among users.
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Moving Forward. We will experiment with more inclusive designs that accommodate a bigger range of hand sizes
Design Parametrics
Design Iteration, Detailed Design and Exploration (Focus and Flare)
Important design parameters.
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Handle Length: Important for the ability to leverage and maneuver the tool effectively, determines how far away the user’s hand is from the patient
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Grip Diameter: The thickness of the handle, important for users with different hand sizes
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Location of the Center of Mass: Influences the balance of the design in the user's hand, affecting usability
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Thumb Rest Area: A dedicated space for the thumb to improve control and comfort
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Pinky Rest Area: Similar to the thumb rest, focusing on comfort and control for the pinky
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Palm Breadth: The width of the grip area to accommodate different palm sizes, crucial for ensuring the design fits comfortably across a wide range of users
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2 design parameters to investigate.
#1 Handle Length Variations
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Short: 10 cm
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Medium: 12 cm
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Long: 14 cm
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Extra Long: 16 cm
#2 Grip Diameter Variations
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Narrow: 2.5 cm
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Medium-Narrow: 3.0 cm
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Medium-Wide: 3.5 cm
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Wide: 4.0 cm
Physical Modeling
Keeping the overarching design the same, we investigated different handle length and diameter variations.
USABILITY TESTING II
Usability Testing
Metrics Used. We utilized RULA to evaluate posture and other biomechanical issues of our designs + a Hand and Wrist Pain self assessment survey that users will fill out to indicate pressure points or other discomfort they feel while using the prototypes.
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In this round of usability testing we were fortunate to be able to work with the Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education Center at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
CAD DESIGNING
CAD Design
To begin, we started with an HTA to better understand the function of the laryngoscope.
PHYSICAL MODELING
What I learned...
Collaboration with Professionals
Power of Product Design
Importance of User Research
Working closely with healthcare providers highlighted the importance of understanding end-users' needs and challenges. Their insights were invaluable in designing a product that truly addressed real-world issues.
This project reinforced the transformative impact of thoughtful design. A well-designed product can significantly improve user experience and efficiency, ultimately saving lives and enhancing patient care.
The project emphasized the critical role of user research in product design. Understanding what is at stake for healthcare providers and their experiences and environment allowed us to create a design that met their specific needs and promoted desired behaviors.
Special Thanks to
