Oscar Daws, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Tone Product Design, emphasises the growing complexity of the relationship between people and technology, underscoring the necessity for integrated, human-centric methodologies in medical product design, particularly in implantable medical devices.

Implantables, like pacemakers and cochlear implants, have been integral to healthcare for years. With technology becoming increasingly ingrained in our lives, implantable devices are poised to revolutionise aspects ranging from health monitoring to sustained drug delivery. Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMDs) are evolving into compact, intelligent, interconnected systems offering enhanced efficiency, superior performance, and extensive patient data capabilities. This evolution places unique demands on medical device design.

At our design consultancy, achieving a balance between technical requirements and user-friendliness is crucial. Our goal is to minimise development risks while building user trust, improve manufacturing efficiency, and maintain aesthetic appeal, striving to find solutions that balance these diverse priorities.

As implantables become more common, designers face challenges including overcoming psychological barriers, building patient trust, conveying the device’s worth, and developing simple, intuitive, and comfortable power solutions.

A Paradigm Shift in Design Coordination

The AIMD market, valued at approximately $85.31 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $143.1 billion by 2028, reflecting the growing potential of AIMDs. These include glucose-monitoring implants paired with mobile apps, devices aiding sleep apnea sufferers, and technology for managing Parkinson’s symptoms.

The potential for AIMDs spans from specialised medical interventions to broader life quality enhancements, including continuous health monitoring and interfaces for individuals with severe disabilities. This integrated design challenge necessitates a pivotal role for the design manager to ensure a seamless user experience across all touchpoints, from the physical product and packaging to digital UX/UI, instructions, and physician-side software. Given the permanence of implantable devices, a human-centred design approach is essential from the outset.

Addressing Battery Capacity and Beyond

Battery capacity, while seemingly an engineering concern, has significant implications for patient quality of life. Design rigour is essential, particularly for AIMDs intended for lower-risk health and wellness interventions, as frequent recharging with a non-user-friendly system can greatly impact the patient experience.

Currently benefiting those with critical health issues, implantables are expanding into personal health enhancements. As our relationship with technology deepens, more people may choose implantables for self-care, similar to wearable technology. For non-critical medical interventions, the appeal of the device on a personal level is paramount; technical features alone are not enough.

The success of continuous glucose monitors in the general population, as seen with companies like Supersapiens and Zoe, indicates a willingness to adopt new medical technologies for personal health insights. DSruptive, specialising in implantable microelectronics, exemplifies this trend, expanding applications like body-temperature monitoring for disease prevention and wellness maintenance.

Collaborative Design Approaches

Our collaboration with Proteus Digital Health, the developers of the first FDA-approved ingestible sensor, illustrates the importance of comprehensive design coordination. We worked alongside app designers, engineers, graphic artists, and clinical teams to design patient-friendly, mail-order pharmacy-compatible packaging. This collaborative effort ensured a user-friendly and secure product, addressing patient concerns about potential errors.

As healthcare, technology, patient needs, and design continue to evolve, we face a multifaceted challenge. Embracing these innovations requires an integrated, human-centred approach, uniting all elements in this transformative journey of medical device product development.