The value of Interviews
Through the process of the medical device design project, I have truly come to appreciate the importance of speaking with people in the field, dealing with the problem that we are trying to solve. There is no more valuable source that these physicians and nurses. My group has been back to the clinic three times and have gained something important each time. Each time, we have gained new insight into our problem and have had to rework our supposed solution. For example, we were initially focused on the prevention of flat head in the PICU. However, doctors and nurses kept reiterating the idea that it is not just flat head that is concerning for babies but also respiratory issues and bed sores. All of these symptoms can be alleviated from rotating babies along their central axis. This idea modified our need statement and created a greater possibility of solutions. Second, we also found the importance of the hands on experience for the nurse when rotating the babies to prevent flat head. This made us rethink the initial concept of an automated rotation device. The experience of being in the hospital and speaking with nurses has been invaluable.
BME Design 