ECMO : Last Chance Treatment in the event of Respiratory Failure

Sammanfattning: ECMO is out of body oxygenation through an artificial lung in the event of severe respiratory failure where conventional care is not enough. Today the treament is complex, overwhelming and it is hard for staff to get a good overview. The usage of ECMO is increasing stready and therefore the treament needs to be simplified, better structured and fit the right context to become accessible to a larger scope of patients. With a user centered design approach and ethnographic research the ICU environment was studied in two hospitals in Sweden to gather information about ECMO. Interviews were held with doctors, nurses and perfusionists (responsible for the ECMO machine).   The creative work consisted of brainstorms with both designers, clinical experts and engineers. Mock-ups were built combined with sketching and feedback-sessions with clinical experts to create three different concept directions. One direction was taken further due to compactness, flexibility and integration.  The final concept is called Adoxy and creates one compact ECMO system that reduces cables and hides connections for an easier usage and cleaner apperance in a complex environment. The oxygenator (disposible part) placement is easier and more hidden for safety and usability.  The final product comes with two different carts, a ward cart, used internally in the hospital and an transportation cart, used outside of the hospital. The ward cart enables the staff to a safer internal transportation by connecting the EMCO to the patient bed. The transportation cart is lower in profile to fit in an airplane or helicopter.  Priming possibilities of the machine are designed for complete integration to be able to use when needed, otherwise hidden. There is a bigger screen on the ECMO for visibility but it is also connected to a general monitor that will show alarms when they occur. This is to give the nurses a chance to easier prioritize work from a distance and to get a better overview.