Synergy Experience StealthStation System for Medtronic
Optimizing spine surgery by better integrating technology into the OR
Of the approximately 200,000 spine surgeries performed annually in the US, 12,000 result in postoperative complications ranging from tingling to paralysis. To minimize injury during spine surgery, orthopedists and neurosurgeons are increasingly looking to technology to provide them with higher precision and accuracy.
Recognizing this need, Medtronic Navigation, a division of the world’s leading medical technology company, developed a surgical navigation system for spine surgery that inspires surgeon and patient confidence, promotes efficiency, and minimizes exposure to harmful radiation. With the help of IDEO, the company refined the product’s integration into the operating room environment and designed a surgical experience driven by people, rather than by technology.
IDEO spent three months observing surgeries in various hospitals around the US, which led to a deep understanding of operating room dynamics. Using these insights, IDEO designed a graphical and physical interface that provides a clear division of responsibilities and tasks, according to the degree of medical expertise of the staff member who’s interacting with the device. Inclusion of a familiar input device and intuitive onscreen controls reduces the required learning curve and improves communication among OR personnel. Stored preferences ensure a personalized experience for each surgeon and increase efficiency throughout the surgery process.
In addition to product and interaction design, IDEO also worked with Medtronic Navigation to establish an in-house sensitivity to human-centered design. This approach has influenced the medical company’s forthcoming computer-assisted surgery systems and applications.
Project date: 2006
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