Design thinking is an ideal method for encouraging innovation and uncovering user needs, making it perfect for devising solutions that meet multiple users' requirements. This methodology was chosen because its goal is to create solutions that are desirable, feasible, and viable—essential criteria for developing a minimum viable product for any company.
To begin our project, we conducted preliminary research to understand the problem and its context thoroughly. This step involved answering key questions to form a solid foundation for our design process.
What is intubation? Intubation is a life-saving intervention required for many Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Intubation is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway; providing stable delivery of mechanical ventilation for patients.
What is planned and unplanned extubation? Planned Extubation is the removal of an endotracheal tube (ETT) from the airway by a nurse or a physician as stated by a schedule or protocol. Unplanned extubations are accidental or patient-induced removal of the ETT. It is considered one of the most common sources of preventable harm in NICUs. Professionals believe unplanned extubations in the NICU can be reduced by the education of staff and by implementing standard practices of care.
What causes unplanned extubation? The largest risk factors leading to unplanned extubations are inappropriate tube fixation (accounting for 31% of UEs) and the positioning of the tube (accounting for 46% of UEs), both of which are exacerbated by the kangaroo care process. Some of the unavoidable factors that raise the risk of unplanned extubations are agitation, infant movement, and younger gestational age.
What is kangaroo care? Kangaroo care is a method of skin-to-skin contact between an infant and its caregiver, who is usually a parent. Through our research, we learned about its advantages and disadvantages. The benefits it provides can include boosting the baby’s mental development, stabilizing its heart and respiratory rates, improving oxygen saturation rates, and regulating the baby’s body temperature. However, kangaroo care also poses a chance to aid unplanned extubation. If the caregiver improperly shifts positions, this motion can cause equipment to be removed from the patient.
What is intubation? Intubation is a life-saving intervention required for many Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Intubation is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway; providing stable delivery of mechanical ventilation for patients.
What is planned and unplanned extubation? Planned Extubation is the removal of an endotracheal tube (ETT) from the airway by a nurse or a physician as stated by a schedule or protocol. Unplanned extubations are accidental or patient-induced removal of the ETT. It is considered one of the most common sources of preventable harm in NICUs. Professionals believe unplanned extubations in the NICU can be reduced by the education of staff and by implementing standard practices of care.
What causes unplanned extubation? The largest risk factors leading to unplanned extubations are inappropriate tube fixation (accounting for 31% of UEs) and the positioning of the tube (accounting for 46% of UEs), both of which are exacerbated by the kangaroo care process. Some of the unavoidable factors that raise the risk of unplanned extubations are agitation, infant movement, and younger gestational age.
What is kangaroo care? Kangaroo care is a method of skin-to-skin contact between an infant and its caregiver, who is usually a parent. Through our research, we learned about its advantages and disadvantages. The benefits it provides can include boosting the baby’s mental development, stabilizing its heart and respiratory rates, improving oxygen saturation rates, and regulating the baby’s body temperature. However, kangaroo care also poses a chance to aid unplanned extubation. If the caregiver improperly shifts positions, this motion can cause equipment to be removed from the patient.
We engaged in qualitative research with industry professionals to gather detailed insights from interviews, allowing us to better understand the needs, pain points, and experiences of our users.
We conducted interviews with over five experts in neonatal care, gathering a key insight from each, captured in a quote.
We conducted interviews with over five experts in neonatal care, gathering a key insight from each, captured in a quote.
To inform our design, we examined existing products that address similar issues, assessing their effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.
Medical professionals with whom we interviewed informed us that the company 3M once supplied a very effective variety of tape for medical purposes. The main complication that we discovered with tapes used to secure ETTs to neonates’ faces was the imbalance between adhesive strength and the possibility of damaging or irritating the patient’s skin when the tape is left on for a long time and when it is removed.
The Neo-fit is placed across the patient’s mouth and uses adhesive pads on the patient’s cheeks to secure the ETT. This design minimizes the use of tape on the patient. The Neo-fit is made of a softer material that is placed closer to the patient’s mouth. Because of the soft material, it does have more potential to move the tube while in use, which may lead to an unplanned extubation.
The NeoBar is an ETT Holder developed by Neotech that minimizes the need for cutting strips of tape to secure an ETT. Secretions can weaken the adhesive pads that attach to the patient’s cheeks. Its rigidity can result in an unplanned extubation by “tromboning” or being pulled out of place because the device is too far away from the patient’s mouth.
Medical professionals with whom we interviewed informed us that the company 3M once supplied a very effective variety of tape for medical purposes. The main complication that we discovered with tapes used to secure ETTs to neonates’ faces was the imbalance between adhesive strength and the possibility of damaging or irritating the patient’s skin when the tape is left on for a long time and when it is removed.
The Neo-fit is placed across the patient’s mouth and uses adhesive pads on the patient’s cheeks to secure the ETT. This design minimizes the use of tape on the patient. The Neo-fit is made of a softer material that is placed closer to the patient’s mouth. Because of the soft material, it does have more potential to move the tube while in use, which may lead to an unplanned extubation.
The NeoBar is an ETT Holder developed by Neotech that minimizes the need for cutting strips of tape to secure an ETT. Secretions can weaken the adhesive pads that attach to the patient’s cheeks. Its rigidity can result in an unplanned extubation by “tromboning” or being pulled out of place because the device is too far away from the patient’s mouth.
Our research and insights led to the development of a strong design solution, which was well-received by ROO's stakeholders. Although not all products could be physically prototyped, the solution met their requirements. At the project's conclusion, ROO requested and acquired the rights to our design.
This project underscored the importance of industry connections for obtaining detailed knowledge. While it would have been beneficial to prototype all products physically, time constraints limited this. In future projects, I would streamline the ideation process to ensure the timely creation of prototypes.
