Richard Hall MSc, BA(Hons), CMgr MCMI, FRSA

Abstract:
Aim: Our aim was to address current LMIC user limitations of a GILLS lift device for laparoscopic abdominal surgery, using a collaborative design approach with LMIC partners to develop a next generation device.
Methods: To investigate device limitations and areas for improvement, primary research was conducted in India.

Presenting Author: Millie Marriott Webb

Introduction:
Providing surgical equipment for Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is more complex than simply repurposing technology developed for western markets. New surgical technologies must be designed specifically for low-resource settings, ensuring their affordability, availability, accessibility and appropriateness with safety and high-quality.

Objective:
In this ‘Development’ project, an inter-disciplinary team… Show more

Presenting Author: Millie Marriott Webb

Introduction:
Providing surgical equipment for Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is more complex than simply repurposing technology developed for western markets. New surgical technologies must be designed specifically for low-resource settings, ensuring their affordability, availability, accessibility and appropriateness with safety and high-quality.

Objective:
In this ‘Development’ project, an inter-disciplinary team investigated design approaches to this non- trivial process whilst re-designing a surgical system for Gas Insufflation-Less Laparoscopic Surgery (GILLS), which enables performing laparoscopic surgery in low-resource settings.

Methods:
The design process utilised popular approaches to medical device design for LMICs, including principles from frugal innovation (optimising performance for function and dramatically reducing cost) and participatory design (facilitating understanding of LMIC contexts through involvement of end-users in the design process). Over 5 months, the team designed the RAIS (Retractor for Abdominal Insufflation-less Surgery) device. Rural surgeons then participated in a study in India to evaluate the effectiveness of the design approach. They performed diagnostic laparoscopy on cadavers using the RAIS and provided feedback through semi-structured interviews.

Discussion/Conclusion:
While study feedback revealed nuanced aspects which were not obvious to designers, none were critical to the system performance. Adopting participatory design was fundamental to this success. The case study highlighted challenges in the design process when user opinions contrasted and little evidence was available to make design decisions, reaffirming that projects in Global Surgery should involve all stakeholders throughout the process, forming close collaborative partnerships and undertaking in-country research where there is a paucity of published information. Show less

Innovation lies at the heart of academia, and universities generate high-quality, intellectual property on a large scale. However, commercial translation of this intellectual property has traditionally been poor, particularly in the critical healthcare sector. It is critical that this situation is addressed to ensure that innovation from research institutes can fulfil its potential and progress to have a genuine impact on the outside world. In this article, we consider the nature of healthcare… Show more

Innovation lies at the heart of academia, and universities generate high-quality, intellectual property on a large scale. However, commercial translation of this intellectual property has traditionally been poor, particularly in the critical healthcare sector. It is critical that this situation is addressed to ensure that innovation from research institutes can fulfil its potential and progress to have a genuine impact on the outside world. In this article, we consider the nature of healthcare innovation in academia and ways in which commercial translation of intellectual property can be successfully realised. This is first analysed from an academic perspective, with a particular focus on how academic motivations and work practices can shape successful translation. We then switch perspective to examine the same process from an industry perspective, looking at the characteristics and expectations involved in the innovation life cycle. To place these analyses in context, we present a case study examining a project being undertaken to commercialise a novel surgical instrument, the intra-abdominal platform, from identification of clinical need, through the development life cycle, to com- mercialisation of the system. We reflect on the successes and challenges encountered during the intra-abdominal plat- form project, the broader lessons learned and in conclusion use these to emphasise how academia can adopt practices to better translate intellectual property in the future. Show less