Final year project
Outpatient treatment: Reusable drug administration device for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers [Read more]
Multijet - a reusable drug administration device
MS symptoms produce a barrier between the patient and the medical devices they use. Single use injection pens and traditional needle syringes provide a lack of usability, insufficient safety and have huge waste and cost impacts for the MS treatment. I propose a reusable drug administration device using a disposable drug cartridge assembly to deliver daily subcutaneous injections, increasing usability throughout the treatment and reducing waste.
Enhanced usability
Talking with MS patients, NHS doctors and nurses to gain insights about symptoms, medication formats and the potential market for a device using a replaceable drug cartridge. Medication errors are one of the biggest incidents in NHS outpatient treatment. Patients not taking their medication, taking too much or forgetting to collect their prescription.
Connected device
Throughout development, the emotional aspects of taking daily injections were explored, including needle and injection fear, injection stigma, apprehension and adherence. The device reads which medication is in the disposable cartridge, the expiry date and if the patient has already taken the drug that day to try and tackle the low compliance with self-administered medication. The device connects to an app which allows patients and consultants to monitor the treatment plan closely. Knowing when the patient is taking their dose, when they might be missing it and how the medication changes their symptoms is key to a more effective and personalised treatment.
Prototype for manufacture
Iterations of mechanical prototypes were developed to refine how the drug cartridge was safely loaded by the user, the needle inserted, and the drug administered. Multijet delivers a 1ml subcutaneous injection automatically using a motor to drive twin-pitch lead screw to insert the needle first, followed by the dose. The drug cartridge is held in the device with a push-lock system making multiple daily injections hassle-free.
Aiding the user
Aiding the user, whose symptoms limit their dexterity, vision and wellness by focusing on usability design and repeated user testing to mitigate daily stress, injection pain and misuse.
Max Walker
I am a versatile and logical designer who specialises in technical problems with a strong understanding of how products are made. I am strong in concept ideation and sketching while keeping it realistic and plausible, designing to manufacturing constraints. I am a fast and adaptable learner with interests in all areas of design. While on placement at eg Technology I was able to extend my design skills and get involved in a wide range of client projects, working on conceptual ideas all the way up to prototyping and designing products for market. I am privileged to have spent a year working for eg and I feel very confident and well-equipped moving into the design industry.
Final year project
Outpatient treatment: Reusable drug administration device for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers
Awards
'20 Diploma in Professional Studies
'18 Bear Vodka - Worldstar Worldwide Design Competition Certificate of Recognition
'16 Bear Vodka - Starpack National Design Competition Gold & MPMA 2nd Award
Placements
July 2018 - August 2019
Medical Industrial Design Intern , eg technology