INTERACTION BETWEEN OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND SUBJECTIVE USER PERCEPTIONS IN THE EVALUATION OF MEDICAL DEVICES: A CASE STUDY

Affordable novel device (VY) for transperineal prostate biopsy: A trial on prostate mannequin

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequent malignancy in men worldwide after lung cancer. The gold standard for diagnosing prostate cancer is prostate biopsy. There are two main approaches for diagnosing PCa: transrectal biopsy and transperineal biopsy. In Indonesia, transperineal approach is rarely done as a part of diagnostic work up. The most known method of transperineal biopsy is the fan technique, which is a difficult technique to perform, particularly when directing the needle to the target accurately. For this reason, we develop an affordable bioplastic VY probe mounted needle guide device ($10) to provide precise needle insertion during the biopsy. In this study, we assessed the objective and subjective factors of the newly developed VY device.•Basic knowledge and operation technique were equalized by holding a prostate biopsy training using fan technique and VY device to 20 first-year Residents•Participants were randomized and devided into two groups to perform fan technique and VY technique based on the training given•Subjective factors (usefulness, the easiness, and preference) and objective factors (duration of puncture to needle visualization on USG, biopsy duration time, and the ability to reach the target tissue) were evaluated.

Impact of Design on Medical Device Safety

The growing number of emerging medical technologies and sophistication of modern medical devices (MDs) that improve both survival and quality of life indexes are often challenged by alarming cases of vigilance data cover-up and lack of sufficient pre- and post-authorization controls. Combining Quality with Risk Management processes and implementing them as early as possible in the design of MDs has proven to be an effective strategy to minimize residual risk. This article aims to discuss how the design of MDs interacts with their safety profile and how this dipole of intended performance and safety may be supported by Human Factors Engineering (HFE) throughout the Total Product Life-Cycle (TPLC) of an MD in order to capitalize on medical technologies without exposing users and patients to unnecessary risks.

Evaluation of a Novel Wellness Assessment Device (Preventiometer): A Feasibility Pilot Study

Background

Periodic wellness assessments can provide an estimate of a person’s relative risks for major diseases, but wellness visits are underused. Our suggestion is to use a comprehensive device during a single visit.

Objective

The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel one-stop wellness device (Preventiometer; iPEx5 GmbH, Greifswald, Germany) for performing multiple tests and providing a comprehensive wellness assessment in a short period.

Methods

A Preventiometer was used to provide wellness assessments for 10 healthy volunteers who then answered a 25-question survey to rate their satisfaction with the testing and their overall impression.

Results

All volunteers agreed or strongly agreed with the following: The assessment reports were easy to understand, the Preventiometer met their satisfaction, the participants were comfortable during the assessment, and all measurements and testing were well coordinated. Participants liked the instant test result feature. Most (90%) agreed that the machine was useful for a quick health assessment for busy people, and 70% felt that it was time efficient.

Conclusion

In this feasibility pilot study, the Preventiometer performed multiple tasks and provided a comprehensive wellness assessment in a short period. Participants reported remarkably high satisfaction with the tests. A larger study is needed to prove that this is a pragmatic approach to help individuals improve their health.