Simplifying Intradermal Drug Delivery for the Developing World
The Challenge
We were approached with an idea to simplify intradermal drug delivery while ensuring a friendly and intuitive user experience manufacturable at a price point suitable for the developing world.
The Solution
A simple, cost-effective, and user-friendly syringe adapter that enables intradermal delivery minimizing training and skill when compared to traditional methods.
The Story
Administering an intradermal injection using the standard "Mantoux method", a technique that uses a bare syringe and precision hand manipulation for delivery to the intradermal layer of the skin requires training, skill, and precision.
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Delivering medication through this route of administration potentially reduces drug volumes to receive similar pharmacological effects and may speed absorption.
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The intradermal adapter development required a robust development process consisting of multiple design iterations and user feedback cycles to assess intuitiveness, guide enhancements, and prove efficacy. ​
Design Contributions
Experiential
Design Research
Human Factors
Interaction Design
Physical
Training Materials
Instructional Design
Concept Sketching
Design Language
Industrial Design
Preliminary DFMA
3D CAD
Prototyping
Digital
Demo Videos
Animations
The Solution
A simple syringe adapter enabling intradermal delivery while minimizing training and skill
A cost-effective single component solution compatible with readily available syringes and easy to manufacture at high volumes ensuring a commercially viable product
A user-friendly adapter refined through multiple rounds of user research ensuring an intuitive injection experience regardless of education or field experience
A product that underwent extensive testing and efficacy validation protocols verifying drug delivery was equal or greater than traditional delivery methods
Project Details Below
Building Foundational Knowledge
We were approached with an idea to simplify intradermal drug delivery. Like most projects in unfamiliar territory, this required rapidly building foundational knowledge with current treatment methods and user frustrations.
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We focused on framing key challenges and barriers such as positioning the needle, understanding current practices and task-flows, and manufacturing constraints required to hit the target price point.
Exploring Initial Ideas
Early exploration included identifying commercially available syringes and generating universal and syringe specific ideas.
Concept Refinement
Utilizing a rapid experimentation approach, we iterated 2D and 3D concepts, continuously prototyping and testing for usability, manufacturability, and simulated injection success.
Honing Prototype Directions
We had an intense focus on adapter attachment, needle positioning within the adapter, skin penetration, and drug dispensing depth.
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The syringe and adapter interface design required considering and testing many approaches multiple ideas verifying needle placement as intended.
Honing Prototype Directions
We had an intense focus on adapter attachment, needle positioning within the adapter, skin penetration, and drug dispensing depth.
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The syringe and adapter interface required the design and evaluation of many methods to consistently deliver needle placement to the desired location.
Bench Testing and Prototype Validation
Each design iteration was tested and validated against current success methods, requiring sourcing and verification of best practice protocols.
User Research and Human Factors
Leveraging feedback from nurse practitioners across broad demographics and experience levels, we evaluated assembly, intuition, visibility, safety, functionality, disposal, and comparison to the current care standards.
Generating Simulation Stimuli for User Research
Unbiased research results are critical.
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We developed protocols and test methods to provide the most effective stimulus and training materials to evaluate and compare the Mantoux injection method against our own.
Defining and Evaluating Instructions for Clarity
Just as the adapter itself went through many iterations, the instructions were optimized after each touchpoint utilizing feedback to improve terminology, readability, and usability.
Validating Success in Humans
The Intradermal Adapter was successfully validated in clinical trials to provide consistent intradermal injections and was found convenient and easy to use with minimal end-user training.
