Category: News

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New device could save lives around the world by allowing two patients to share one ventilator

July 23rd 2020

Staff at Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) have worked on an innovative project to “split” a medical ventilator, so that it can save the life of two patients at the same time. It could be used by healthcare providers around the world to double ventilator support in emergencies involving mass casualties. The innovative device is now set for regulatory approval thanks to the CDP team.

The device was initially created in a tight timeframe in March 2020, said Jon Cooke, who led CDP’s team working on the project. “At the time, there were fears that Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge could not cope with the high numbers of seriously ill Covid-19 patients they might face, so we worked round the clock to turn the idea into reality.”

The device allows one ventilator to serve two patients safely, even if they have differing needs for breathing support. It is now being tested and looks set to become a key piece of emergency equipment in pandemics and other crises such as war and mass shootings.

The project was initiated by the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge, in response to a call for help from Royal Papworth Hospital anaesthetists. Previous ventilator-splitting designs did not take into account the differing needs of the two patients in terms of lung capacity and breathing needs. “They were so rudimentary they ran the risk of doing serious damage to the patients’ lungs,” said Jon.

All parts in the device are easily sourced and can be swiftly changed and replaced. Initial details of how to build the device are now freely available on the Institute for Manufacturing website, for use by all medical professionals in emergencies. “If other communities across the world have to consider this emergency option in the event of a shortage of ventilators, they can copy and adapt the set-up for their own needs,” said Jon.

“The CDP team was asked to join the project at short notice over Easter 2020. “Although ventilator demand in the UK has now reduced, this system could provide emergency support in other countries which are still facing significant challenges with the pandemic. It’s also of great help for longer-term use in countries with ongoing ventilator shortages,” said Jon Cooke.

Two anaesthetists from the Royal Papworth Hospital, Professor Andrew Klein and Dr Chinmay Patvardhan, initiated the project. Professor Klein said: “We needed to have the ability to measure and control the air flow to each patient individually. We also needed to ensure that if there was a decline or improvement in breathing in one patient this would have no effect on air delivery to, or monitoring of, the other.”

“It was also essential that the set-up was easy to assemble and use. The device is currently being tested at Royal Papworth Hospital and first trials of the device using artificial lungs are very encouraging.”

Dr Patvardhan said: “This device could allow medical professionals to instantly double their ability to ventilate patients safely in a crisis situation. This would be invaluable for any future emergency on the scale we have seen with COVID-19.”

The system is specifically designed to be simple to use and maintain. The unit provides isolated respiratory lines to two patients and can be swiftly added to a ventilator. A meter shows a measurement of tidal volume to each patient. The device can also monitor the total pressure and airflow in the device. Easy-to-access valves enable fine tuning of air flow to match the requirements of each patient.

Jon Cooke said: “It was a hugely positive experience for us here at CDP to support the IfM team and work with Royal Papworth to deliver a functioning and safe design in such a short space of time.

“The combination of the deep regulatory knowledge and robust design techniques of the CDP team along with the great conceptual and experimental work conducted by the IfM made for a truly rapid development process. I’m extremely proud of what we achieved together in this remarkable cooperative project. “Of course, we hope that such emergency use of ventilators will be a rare occurrence in the future. But if such a situation arises, this system can be a lifesaver.”

Watch a report on the new device from BBC Science and Technology Correspondent Richard Westcott:

‘Invaluable’ ventilator device could treat two Covid-19 patients at once

BBC News coverage

Royal Papworth tests new ventilator for use on two patients simultaneously

ITV News coverage

For more information on the ventilator sharing device project, visit the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) website here.

For further information and media enquiries, please contact: media@cambridge-design.com or call 01223 264428

Covid Visors

CDP helps create emergency face visors for healthcare workers

May 7th 2020

In response to the national shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Cambridge Design Partnership is working on a project to create 1,000 face visors a day

A team from Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is helping to manufacture protective face visors for healthcare workers during the Covid-19 outbreak.

CDP staff based at the firm’s HQ in Toft, Cambridgeshire are working pro bono on a project called NHS Visors.

“Our role is to ensure that the face visors are being made to an acceptable standard of quality and safety,” said Jonathan Wilkins, senior consultant at CDP, who is leading the team working on the project.

“We have drawn on our expertise in designing medical devices to ensure that the emergency production line is creating visors that comply with health and safety regulatory standards.”

The NHS Visors project has been set up by Warwickshire engineering and machinery development company 3P Innovation. “When we heard they were creating the visors, we were excited to help out,” said Jonathan.

The project was launched when it became clear the country was perilously short of PPE for hospitals and care homes. Initially, the project assembled visors using 3D-printed components made by hundreds of businesses and individuals with 3D printers.

When 3P scaled up its manufacturing processes to deliver larger quantities, CDP helped by navigating through the rapidly changing Covid-19 emergency quality regulations: “Compliance with regulations is needed but in a very tight time frame,” explained Jonathan.

“This is a safety critical product and is used by healthcare workers tackling Covid-19 at the frontline. Although there are emergency relaxations on legislation in place at the moment due to the desperate shortage of PPE, it is crucial that face visors sent to frontline workers are fit for purpose.”

CDP’s work for the project included developing a strategy for regulatory compliance and testing, advising on quality processes required for the manufacturing process, and assessing the ergonomics of the finished product to check it is practical and comfortable to use. “It’s our aim to ensure the visors are both effective and comply with legislation,” said Jonathan. “Indeed, the visors have recently been awarded a certificate for compliance with the European Standard for PPE eye protection.”

CDP’s help has been “hugely appreciated”, said Simon Strothers of 3P Innovation who is working on the NHS Visors project as a volunteer. “We are very grateful that our friends at CDP offered to help out, working so swiftly to make our new visors safe and legal. We have been amazed how quickly we have collectively got this project off the ground.

“We are supplying the visors free of charge wherever they are needed, taking the orders direct here at our HQ and delivering them with a team of motorbike volunteers. In some cases, healthcare staff have literally broken down in tears to receive the visors. They are life-saving pieces of kit in this current epidemic. Many care homes and NHS centres simply don’t have enough to ensure staff safety.”

The NHS Visors project initially created 4,500 visors made on 3D printers. “This is quite an achievement when you consider each one takes hours to print out on a 3D printer,” says Simon.

“Then as the severity of the shortage became clear, we appealed for help to set up higher-volume production. Mondelez International, owner of the famous Cadbury chocolate brand, agreed to step in and fund the purchase of injection moulding tools for the key visor components. We can now make injection-moulded headbands for the visors and we have also purchased a clicker press cutter to create the clear visor itself.

“At this stage, CDP’s input into ensuring that production meets the accepted safety standards was invaluable. We can now make visors in seconds rather than hours.”
The volunteers are now producing over 8,000 face visors a week. “We offer them to anyone who needs them,” said Simon. “If hospitals, care homes or other emergency healthcare workers would like some, please do get in touch.”

Staff at CDP are also working on a range of Covid-19 projects including ventilators and diagnostic devices, as well as the NHS Visors project. “We are only too pleased that the NHS Visors project asked us to help build them a better PPE product at short notice,” said Jonathan. “We are highly motivated to use our expertise in whatever way we can to help overcome the pandemic.”

For further information and media enquiries, please contact: media@cambridge-design.com or call 01223 264428

pen-injector technology

CDP collaboration on pen-injector technology with the Stevanato Group

April 28th 2020

Uri Baruch 

Partner

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP), a UK and US based leading technology and product design partner, and the Stevanato Group, a leading producer of glass primary packaging and provider of integrated capabilities for combination products, today announced a collaboration agreement for the development of a new pen-injector based on the Axis-D technology and intellectual property (IP) licensed exclusively from Haselmeier in 2019.

The collaboration between CDP and the Stevanato Group strongly supports the expansion of the Stevanato group’s portfolio of devices for patients suffering from diabetes.

The agreement leverages the mutual strengths: on one side, CDP’s leading design and development expertise in drug delivery and on the other, the Stevanato Group’s extensive experience in glass containers, tooling, injection moulding, device assembly, and its global commercial network.

CDP and the Stevanato Group will be able to offer innovative drug delivery solutions to pharmaceutical customers working together from the first concept right through design development, scale-up, regulatory submission, and commercial-scale production in all global markets.

“We are delighted to be announcing this partnership,” says Uri Baruch, CDP’s Head of Drug Delivery. “The Stevanato Group is well established in the device field as a leading supplier of cartridges and assembly equipment for pen-injectors. It is a pleasure to extend our existing working relationship with them for their pen-injector and to address the needs of patients.”

“Our R&D team – with the active support of CDP, an established player in the design and development of drug delivery devices – will offer a competitive pen-injector platform and some customization options,” comments Paolo Patri, Chief Technology Officer at the Stevanato Group. “With the resources and experience of both companies, we will provide diabetic patients with a product that is easy-to-use, aesthetically appealing, and cost-effective.”

This new collaboration is one of the programmes behind the recent, substantial growth of CDP’s team of healthcare-focused designers and engineers in both Cambridge (UK) and Raleigh, NC (USA) facilities. “This is another strong vote of confidence in CDP. We look forward to this being the first of many end-to-end projects that we can collaborate on in this new partnership”, says Uri Baruch.

About Cambridge Design Partnership: Cambridge Design Partnership is an employee-owned technology and product design partner, located in Cambridge (UK) and Raleigh, North Carolina (US), focused on helping clients grow their business. Over more than 20 years, some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies have trusted CDP with their most important product development programs. CDP provide an integrated and holistic product development capability through a highly qualified team, well equipped development labs and ISO 13485/9001 approved methods. This encompasses research and strategy, design, technology and digital innovation, product development and regulatory and manufacturing support. CDP experts are able to take combination products through a full design cycle and submission, enabling customers to launch products that are user-centric and commercially effective. For more information, please visit our site.

For further information and media enquiries, please contact: media@cambridge-design.com or call 01223 264428

About the Stevanato Group: Established in 1949, the Stevanato Group is the world’s largest, privately-owned designer and producer of glass primary packaging for the pharmaceutical industry. From its outset, the Group has developed its own glass converting technology to ensure the highest standards of quality. The Group comprises a wide set of capabilities dedicated to serving the biopharmaceutical and diagnostic industries: from glass containers with its historical brand Ompi, to high-precision plastic diagnostic and medical components, to contract manufacturing for drug delivery devices, to vision inspection systems, assembly, and packaging equipment. The Group also provides analytical and testing services to study container closure integrity and integration into drug delivery devices, streamlining the drug development process. Thanks to its unique approach as a one-stop-shop, the Stevanato Group can offer an unprecedented set of solutions to biopharma companies for a faster time to market and a reduced total cost of ownership. For more information, please visit Stevanato Group.

For all enquiries, please contact Steven Kaufman

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A radical approach to harnessing solar energy

January 22nd 2020

We all know what to expect from solar panels, don’t we? Flat, square, black… They are certainly functional, but no one could accuse them of being aesthetically pleasing.

Until now, that is.

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is helping UK company Solivus to bring a remarkable new concept for renewable energy to the market.

“Solivus had the idea for a freestanding solar panel with high architectural values,” explains James Baker, partner at CDP. “Its CEO, Jo Parker-Swift, wanted to create a product so attractive that people would be happy to have one in their garden.”

The end result is a beautiful curved solar installation. “Jo had the concept of a 3-dimensional structure that would capture solar energy more effectively in a given footprint than a flat panel can. CDP helped Solivus turn that concept into a reality” says James. “It also looks stunning, helping Solivus open up new markets for solar energy.”

The panels themselves are ground-breaking too, says Conor Devine, mechanical engineer at CDP: “We used flexible organic solar film from pioneering German firm Heliatek. The green credentials for this film are impeccable compared to the usual polysilicon technology used in conventional panels.”

“Ultimately, the new design will help power homes and electric cars and is set to be brought to the market”, explains Ben Crundwell, senior electronics engineer at CDP. “Our brief so far has been to create a prototype for Solivus to show to investors and potential customers. So we built the 3-dimensional solar generator at CDP in-house, as a bespoke one-off. The next step will be to refine it for cost effective, volume manufacture. We have considerable experience in this process and can provide all the development capabilities needed to move smoothly to production,” says Ben.

The Solivus project is just part of CDP’s increasing involvement in the sustainable energy sector. “As a firm, we believe passionately in doing all we can to create better and more efficient renewable energy systems, whilst also providing our clients with a unique value proposition,” says James.

For further information, please get in touch via hello@cambridge-design.co.uk

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Exciting innovation in robotic surgery

January 15th 2020

Ground-breaking new surgical technology has taken a step closer to reality, thanks to a new partnership.

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) has teamed up with Canadian based Titan Medical (titanmedicalinc.com) to develop an innovative robotic surgery system. They aim to offer minimally invasive surgery (MIS) through a single incision, rather than several incisions, which is currently the case with both traditional laparoscopic surgery and existing multi-port robotic systems.

The innovative “single-port” robotic surgery system should offer swifter recovery time and less scarring for patients, in addition to better access to narrow spaces for surgeons.

“We are delighted to be working with Titan Medical on this important project,” says CDP partner Jez Clements. “It’s an exciting technology and one we are proud to be involved with.”

Technology and product innovation company CDP first started working with Titan Medical on its robotic surgery system in 2019. The collaboration has been so effective that the two companies have announced an ongoing working partnership for the project.

“We are pleased to announce our expanded collaboration with Cambridge Design Partnership,” says David McNally, President and CEO of Titan. “Since engaging with them only a few months ago, their highly qualified engineers have rapidly driven innovation and delivered significant performance improvements.”

The two companies are now working together on the single-port robotic surgical system towards a submission for FDA approval in the US.

“This technology will mean less invasive procedures for patients, offering improved recovery and less trauma,” explains Hans Pflaumer, senior mechanical engineer at CDP. “However, for a surgeon to achieve a good result with just a single small incision creates all sorts of technical and design challenges, which we have worked intensively to overcome. In the Titan robot, this is accomplished using a single 25mm port which is used to pass a 2D camera, a 3D camera and the multi-articulating instruments into the surgical site.”

CDP has its HQ in Cambridge in the UK but also has a base in Raleigh, North Carolina to better serve our clients in the US. “It has been advantageous for our team to be able to work on this project in both the US and UK time zones, effectively giving us a fifteen-hour working day,” says Hans. “As a consequence, we have been able to deliver significant design improvements in a short space of time.”

Titan’s robotic surgery technology contains a large amount of intellectual property (IP), with 47 issued and 87 pending patents on individual elements within the system. “It is a very valuable portfolio,” says senior mechanical engineer Aki Laakso. “We want to make sure Titan is maximising the impact of their IP.

“We are working on surgical instruments with multiple functions, including cutting, suturing and cauterising. We need to make all these processes as robust and stable as possible for the surgeon, while offering the best possible workspace within the patient.”

The project plays to CDP’s skills in terms of electromechanical medical device design, says CDP partner Jez Clements: “Much of the focus with Titan has been on achieving milestones in a very swift, performance-based collaboration. Titan needed results and we have been able to provide smart design decisions in a short timeframe, thanks to our skilled team and fast-paced work ethos.”

Using a multi-continental work cycle in both CDP’s UK and US bases, the team has made fast progress to overcome design challenges. “Our wealth of experience working on ISO 13485 and FDA medical device approvals stood us in good stead to work with Titan on this project,” says Jez Clements. “It’s a design-critical build which will ultimately revolutionise minimally invasive surgery. In addition, we have been able to maximise value and look at reducing costs within the design, which will help its launch onto the market.

“Ultimately, we are aiming for surgeons to use this equipment with complete confidence in the operating theatre. The market is ready for this innovation and it will undoubtedly bring huge benefits to patients in the future.”

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CDP ranked in the top three international design firms

December 19th 2019

Cambridge Design Partnership is recognised as one of the top three agencies in Europe and the Americas for design innovation, according to the Red Dot awards programme.

Red Dot has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design. They organise annual competitions looking to applaud the best in product design, globally.

This year Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) came third in the ranking for design firms that continuously and progressively, produce cutting edge and forward-thinking product concepts.

“We are absolutely delighted with the news,” says Mike Cane, founding partner of CDP. “To have this sort of accolade on a global stage is really gratifying. It’s a testament to the hard work and creativity of our whole team.”

In presenting the award, Ken Koo, President of the Red Dot Award in Asia congratulated CDP and stated that the ranking recognised CDP’s continued investment in design and was a “vigorous reflection of real and sustainable design innovation capability”.

CDP was founded 23 years ago and has grown rapidly offering customer focussed technology and design innovation. Capabilities start with front end research, strategy and design, and include mechanical, electronics and software engineering as well as manufacturing and quality management. They work for market leading companies in healthcare, consumer technology and energy in Europe and US.

CDP innovations which have won coveted Red Dot Awards in recent years include the First Response Monitor, a wearable connected device which measures and broadcasts patients’ vital signs for instant analysis by medics in emergencies. Another is Klarus, a drug delivery system aimed at patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, which necessitates regular self-injection with medication.

Red Dot Design Raking

Cambridge tech company signs innovation deal with China’s design capital

November 1st 2018

In a major ceremony held in Cambridge and attended by dignitaries from both China and the UK, CDP signed what is known as a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) with the deputy mayor of Jiang’an district of Wuhan, Mayor Du Changhui.

This means that CDP is now set to be a lead provider of product design and innovation capabilities to companies in the new hi-tech zone in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The move is part of an economic and technological twinning programme between Cambridge and Wuhan, known as ‘Window-on-Wuhan’.

“I am delighted that CDP and the members of the Window-on-Wuhan programme have taken a step towards furthering our collaboration with companies in Wuhan,” says Mike Beadman, founding partner of CDP.

“Here at CDP we have designed many products for the Chinese market over the years. We are now looking forward to working closely with companies in Wuhan to research, develop and manufacture innovative products and technologies to meet their customer needs.”

“This is also a wonderful opportunity for our many clients to gain greater access to the Chinese market.”

The Window-on-Wuhan programme is led by Dr Simon Haworth, founder of 14 life sciences companies including Dynasty Biotechnology and Dr Richard Leaver, serial entrepreneur and partner in Boundary Capital Partners LLP. Window-on-Wuhan is supported by both the UK and Chinese governments and the new multimillion pound Sino-UK Fund.

“The aim is to establish a world-class design and engineering hub in Wuhan and establish a permanent link between Cambridge and Wuhan,’ explains Mike Beadman. ‘Wuhan holds a key strategic and economic position in China. UNESCO has awarded the city the title of ‘Capital of Design’ due to its location in the economic and geographic centre of China and its excellent infrastructure.”

At the launch event, delegation leader Minister Yan of the Wuhan Municipal Government described Window-on-Wuhan as ‘a great success’. Minister Yan introduced Wuhan to the audience, describing how the city has developed as a centre for innovation in biotech, medtech, agritech, electric vehicles and other cutting edge technologies.

George Freeman, MP, former Life Sciences Minister, gave the keynote speech at the launch ceremony, which was held in Cambridge on October 24th 2018. He said: “UK healthcare and biotech companies need a conduit to China. Match the Window-on-Wuhan programme with the funding provided by the Sino-UK Fund and we have the opportunity to power ahead.”

The Sino-UK Fund has been set up in parallel with Window-on-Wuhan programme and is a new equity investment fund to finance UK companies accessing the China market. The fund has high level team members in Cambridge, UK and Wuhan PRC: the UK team, led by partners, Simon Haworth and Richard Leaver. “The team’s network and sector knowledge will ensure that UK projects with high growth potential in China are identified, while the China team’s local execution skills will ensure that those investments achieve their potential in China,” says Mike Beadman.

“This really is a very exciting initiative and here at Cambridge Design Partnership we are sure it will create very fruitful opportunities both here and in China.”

For further information and media enquiries, please contact: media@cambridge-design.com or call 01223 264428

An innovative approach to stoma wear

October 22nd 2018

22 October 2018 – Cambridge Design Partnership is delighted to be working with an innovative young designer to turn an award-winning healthcare idea into reality.

CDP will be working with industrial designer Stephanie Monty, whose family’s struggles with Crohn’s disease have led her to invent better, more beautiful, appliances for people with a stoma.

A stoma is an opening made in the abdomen, normally as a result of bowel disease, cancer or trauma. This diverts waste output into an external bag (colostomy or ileostomy bag), which the patient must wear all day, every day.

Stephanie has just won a major grant to create an ostomy product that is so attractive and empowering it can be worn openly on the beach with swimwear.

“This clever, thoughtful design will give colostomy bag wearers the choice of a product that is good-looking as well as functional,” says Wade Tipton, partner at CDP and the company’s Head of Manufacturing and Quality. “We are absolutely thrilled that Stephanie has chosen CDP to help bring this wonderful idea to fruition.”

In July 2017 Stephanie’s company, Ostique, gained significant funding from Innovate UK to take the product to market. She has chosen Cambridge Design Partnership to help her achieve that goal.

“When I met the team at CDP, I was impressed not only by their knowledge and professionalism but also by their passion and enthusiasm,” she explains.

CDP will now work with Stephanie over the next year to develop her concepts into works-like and use-like models to support user trials. Along the way we’ll create detailed requirements documents and design specifications, support Ostique’s risk management process, and develop key manufacturing methods to enable Stephanie to bring her invention to manufacture.

“We are starting with Stephanie’s design idea and helping to develop her vision based on user research” says Matt Schumann, founding partner of CDP. “Our aim is for Ostique to meet users’ needs and aspirations while fulfilling all the regulatory requirements of a Class 1 medical device and being cost-effective to manufacture.”

“Here at CDP, we plan to make a series of prototypes in our workshops to test and refine the concept further. We will then create samples for a hospital-based clinical trial under our ISO 13485 quality system.”

“Future plans could include working with Stephanie to complete the documentation package needed to meet the Government’s medical device regulations and help her develop a supply chain to take Ostique into volume manufacture.”

Stephanie, 29, was inspired to set up Ostique due to illness within her own family. “Both my father and my two younger brothers have Crohn’s Disease,” she explains. “It runs in my family and, with my own marriage planned for next year, I am also thinking of my own future children too.”

“Crohn’s is a chronic bowel disease that can lead to patients having a stoma and needing to wear a colostomy bag to catch waste outside their body. At the time I was planning my final design project at Brunel University in 2015, my brother Adam was particularly unwell and was facing the prospect of having a colostomy bag himself.”

“He was in his early 20s, in a relationship with his now wife, and of course the prospect was shocking. As I looked into what wearing a colostomy bag would mean for him, I thought to myself, there has got to be a way of improving on this design. I created the new range of innovative products myself, with designs based on the idea of a tattoo or lingerie. I would literally be baking the silicone prototypes at home in my oven.”

“This funding grant from Innovate UK is the game-changer I needed. My dream is to see Ostique on the shelves of Boots one day. I hope that people will be able to pick up a designer Ostique product along with their mascara and deodorant when they are planning a night out.”

Ostique is designed as a special-occasion appliance, particularly created for sunbathing, swimming or intimacy. It has a lower capacity than current products and can be worn for up to six hours. Stephanie first developed the idea of an innovative ostomy product in 2015 during her degree in Industrial Design and Technology at Brunel University. The silicone Ostique products are decorated with designs such as roses, lace and a skull. As well as being attractive and discreet, their functionality is improved too, with less noise during movement and enhanced deodorisation.

“I have spoken to numerous ostomates during my research and they say this product gives them hope,” says Stephanie. “Often, a colostomy bag can be a very difficult thing to come to terms with. Some people find it really difficult to be intimate with a new partner. I have spoken to one woman who had not left her house for two months since her operation, as she felt so worried and embarrassed.”

“My brother did not have to have a colostomy bag in the end but Crohn’s is a lifelong condition so the prospect never entirely goes away. There are around 200,000 people with colostomy bags in the UK and globally the numbers are rising as people get more access to health care.”

“What got me to thinking about the appearance of the design is that often, when people undergo a difficult or traumatic experience, they cheer themselves up by buying a new outfit, having a haircut or getting a tattoo. I want Ostique to be that special something for colostomy bag wearers. It looks good and they can wear one with pride, instead of having to feel embarrassed about it.”

“Ostique consists of embossed silicone covers which are reusable, paired with a disposable liner to collect the waste. The design challenges are huge, not only with the issues around adhesion to human skin but also making sure it doesn’t expand too much and become bulky and noticeable,” says Stephanie.

“We are very much looking forward to working on Ostique. It is an opportunity to treat ostomates as consumers as well as patients and an exciting innovation in healthcare,” says Wade Tipton.

“We hope to get the product ready to test by August 2019 and for it to be launching onto the market in the spring of 2020.”

CDP has a strong track record of bringing mass-use medical devices to the market. The company is a leading technology and product design partner and works with leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies around the world on their most important innovation programs.

“Our company aim is to improve lives through innovation and our work in healthcare makes a big impact,” says Wade Tipton.

Other partners in the development of Ostique are the charity Bowel & Cancer Research and University Hospital Birmingham.

For further information and media enquiries, please contact: media@cambridge-design.com or call 01223 264428

A breath of fresh air – How interactive technology could transform the patient experience in intensive care

September 24th 2018

24 September 2018 – A doctor’s experience of dealing with acute trauma on the battlefield is being used to help improve the lives of critically ill civilian patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Dr Charlotte Small and the critical care research team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) in the UK are working with technology and product design firm Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) on a novel approach to the complex task of weaning recovering patients off ventilators.

Millions of people are admitted to ICUs around the world each year – with the majority recovering and eventually returning home. But discharge from the ICU is often not the end of the story – many patients experience significant and persistent physical, psychological or social problems. One key contributor to these issues can be the process of weaning patients off ventilator support after an extended period of chronic critical illness.

The weaning process involves various regimens of progressive reduction in mechanical support – analogous to athletic or resistance training. But, unlike athletic training, the ICU process is out of the control of patients – who may also be disorientated, confused and suffering short-term memory loss. As a result, they can be prone to distress or panic when breathing support is partially or temporarily withdrawn. As well as contributing to psychological trauma, this can lead to extended ICU stays and poorer long-term outcomes.

Now Dr Small and CDP are harnessing interactive technology in a bid to make the process more patient friendly. With funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), they are creating a ‘digital liberation from ventilation’ (DELVE) system to give patients easy-to-understand information on a screen about their breathing performance – both real time and historical – and so engage them in the weaning process. The dashboard will also enable clinicians to see at a glance a patient’s breathing performance and improve their understanding of an individual’s progress – mechanical ventilator devices currently provide no easy way of viewing historical patient data, so doctors usually piece together data from multiple sources such as vital signs monitors and clinician notes.

Loss of muscle mass whilst on mechanical ventilation is another significant challenge to patient recovery. Patients typically undergo physiotherapy sessions to rebuild body strength as soon as they are medically stable enough on the ICU. The dashboard could include a gamification element to make breathing exercises more interesting and enable patients to do them on their own – speeding up the process of building up their diaphragm muscles and relearning how to breathe for themselves.

“This novel approach has the potential to improve the patient experience – and patient outcomes – whilst preserving precious healthcare resources,” said Matt Brady, partner and head of medical therapy systems at CDP. “It’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved when human factors, design and user experience expertise are combined with electronic and software skills in a cost-effective way for the benefit of the patient and the healthcare system.”

Dr Small works in anaesthesia and pain medicine at the QEHB. Her previous role as an anaesthetic trainee in the Royal Air Force led her to undertake research and quality improvement work into the management of acute trauma-related pain. She is the chief investigator for a programme of work at the NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre investigating how interactive technology could benefit the experience and performance of patients during early rehabilitation in ICUs – which includes a feasibility study of the DELVE system.

“This exciting programme of work has huge potential for patients and their loved ones,” said Dr Small. “By improving understanding of the process of recovery from critical illness – and combining that with the knowledge gained from our research – we aim to enhance clinician decision making and prediction of recovery pathways. Working with the CDP development team – with its understanding of the technical aspects, as well as patient and clinician perspectives – has been crucial to bringing our ideas to life.”

The NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre funding the project is a partnership between the NIHR, the Ministry of Defence, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (which runs the QEHB) and the University of Birmingham. The initiative brings both military and civilian trauma surgeons and scientists together to share advanced clinical practice on the battlefield and innovation in medical research to benefit all trauma patients in the NHS at an early stage of injury.

Notes for editors
Cambridge Design Partnership is a technology and product design partner focused on helping clients grow their businesses. Some of the world’s largest companies trust CDP to develop their most important innovations. Located in both Cambridge (UK) and in Palo Alto, California (US), CDP specialises in the consumer products, healthcare, energy and industrial equipment markets. Its multidisciplinary staff have the expert knowledge to identify opportunities and tackle the challenges its clients face. For more information, visit: cambridgededev.wpenginepowered.com.

The National Institute for Health Research: improving the health and wealth of the nation through research. Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR funds high-quality research to improve health; trains and supports health researchers; provides world-class research facilities; works with the life-sciences industry and charities to benefit all; involves patients and the public at every step. For more information, visit: www.nihr.ac.uk

The NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre is a national centre for trauma research, transferring innovation used in the treatment of injured military personnel to improve outcomes for all patients. It brings together the pioneering advances in surgery and infection control made by military and civilian scientists and medics working together. Launched in January 2011, the national trauma research centre will share its discoveries with the wider NHS to support delivery of excellence in a complex area of acute care. Based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), the centre harnesses expertise from the Ministry of Defence, the University of Birmingham and the QEHB and has been funded over five years with a total investment of £15 million investment. For more information, visit: www.srmrc.nihr.ac.uk

For further information, contact the marketing team:
+44 (0)1223 264428
marketing@cambridge-design.co.uk

CesarLastra

International mission to share innovation insights

July 13th 2018

Innovation leaders from technology and product design firm Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) have just returned from a week-long trip to China where they were invited to share their expertise in using breakthrough technology to tackle real-life issues.

They were in Shanghai for the inauguration of the Shanghai International Energy Innovation Centre and to launch a report on open innovation in collaboration with non-profit organisation SHEnergy and Professor Alan Barrell, entrepreneur in residence at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning in Cambridge.

“In China there is no shortage of advanced technology – however, in order to really impact their bottom line and improve people’s lives, it requires an application that is based on real needs and problems worth solving,” said Cesar Lastra, consumer insight and innovation leader at CDP. “The message they were able to take away from us – and that we hope to continue to develop with them – is that true innovation happens at the intersection of consumers, technology and business.

“We also addressed the somewhat misunderstood topic of intellectual property (IP) and the perceived copycat effect in China. Part of what we do at CDP when exploring commercial opportunities and innovation strategies is to conduct IP landscaping and technology road mapping up front – before going down the path of extensive product development. That way we can reassure our clients that we are co-developing viable, protectable technology and designs from initial prototype through to launch and beyond.”