Philips ICE
Intracardiac Echocardiography
Intraluminal Medical Imaging Interface Devices and Systems
Inter-cardiac echocardiography (ICE) is used in non-invasive interventions to provide high-resolution real-time visualization of cardiac structures, continuous monitoring of catheter location within the heart with the ultrasound technology. Since it does not Harm the persons in the lab like the C-arm method using X-ray technology, the efforts put into developing ICE is increasing. Therefore it was important to draw a future vision for what ICE catheter can and should become in the cath lab(1), and I took on the challenge to do so during my time at Philips.
The insights used to develop the final product has drawn from extensive research done in the US prior to my work. The project consisted of mainly 3 blocks; drawing insights from the research and defining touch-points based on the task analysis map created; ideation, prototyping, and testing on main functionality; and execution of the final look and feel.
Usability was the main focus of the project, providing physicians a clear mind map when they are operating the catheter position and orientation inside of the patient. Besides usability, the final result also offers novel solutions in other problem areas: integration of the device to the cath lab system, ease in sterile setup, giving full control to the physicians when it comes to ECHO(2) settings, and high-cost aspect of such an advanced single-use product.
It is one of the projects that I am the most satisfied with the result; thanks to my amazing mentors who provided every resource I needed for this project and their valuable feedback.
(1) An examination room in a hospital or clinic with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualize the arteries of the heart and the chambers of the heart.
(2) An echocardiogram (echo) is a graphic outline of the heart's movement. During an echo test, ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) from a hand-held wand placed on your chest provides pictures of the heart's valves and chambers and helps the sonographer evaluate the pumping action of the heart.
2018 | Individual Work | 16 weeks
mentors: Andrew Mitchell and Volker Verschoor
Philips Healthcare Eindhoven, Medical Imaging Department
an example of intracardiac echocardiography catheters used today