The EndoCuff, a disposable sleeve that slips onto the end of conventional colonoscopes to improve mucosal vision and enhance tip control, has been awarded the coveted Red Dot in the Red Dot Design Awards 2012, which were judged by team of 30 international judges and attracted more than 4,515 entries in 19 different categories. The Endocuff was awarded an ‘honourable mention’ for an outstandingly designed detail solution: and was designed in conjunction with Arc Medical Design, which specialises in finding solutions to problems in medical endoscopy. Says Alasdair Barnett from DesignEdge: “We’re delighted that the design has been recognised for its particularly well-executed aspects of design work by Red Dot and also that it will go on to play its part in improving cancer detection.“
DesignEdge, whose medical products also include the award-winning intelligent prosthetic foot for Ossur, worked with Arc Medical on the product for three years. The challenge was to create a simple, flexible sleeve to improve the colonoscopy procedure in terms of visibility, detection, speed (it is currently a 25-30 minute procedure) and patient comfort. The product also had to be able to attach to a number of colonoscope sizes and be mass produced.
From this brief DesignEdge developed a number of prototypes looking at different methods to improve the procedure and after preliminary testing phase focused on a design that used soft, flexible projections to gently support the tip of the colonoscope to reduce sudden slip back and juddering. These projections fall flush with the Endocuff maximising user comfort whilst the device is inserted. The projections evert large folds and flatten small folds so that significantly more mucosa can be visualised with ease.
Adds Alasdair: “The design was presented to 200 gastroenterologists at UEGW 2011 (United European Gastroenterology Week) and the response was that it was innovative, novel, simple to use and why hadn’t any of the big companies thought of this before? One physician from Cyprus said "I perform 5000 colonoscopies a year and this is just what I need to improve control of the endoscope and enable me to see more mucosa.””
DesignEdge has engineered a number of size variants available in different medically compatible colours designed to fit various colonoscope sizes and models.
The Endocuff will be on display at the Red Dot Museum in Essen, Germany.
About Designedge
DesignEdge offers a complete design and engineering service to both local and national companies, taking designs through from initial sketches all the way to manufacture. For more about DesignEdge visit www.designedge.co.uk or call 01223 566439.
About Arc Medical Design
Arc Medical Design specialises in finding simple and effective solutions to everyday problems in medical endoscopy. Founded in 2007, the company has built a team of key medical opinion leaders as well as experts in medical design, manufacture, finance, regulation and marketing. It takes ideas through the complex processes of development, manufacture and regulatory hurdles to a marketing and distribution network that covers the world.
The red dot design award
The red dot design award, whose origins reach back to the 1950s, is carried out in three disciplines: the “red dot award: product design”, the “red dot award: communication design” and the “red dot award: design concept”. The award – the red dot – has established itself internationally as one of the most appreciated quality seals for outstanding designs www.red-dot.de/press
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