Clikx

Ventilation Tube Applicator

The ventilation tube applicator is a handheld device used for inserting tubes directly into the eardrum to treat Otitis Media with Effusion (OME). The device allows clinicians to target and insert the tubes without the need for an operating room or general anesthesia enabling the procedure to be performed in the field at a fraction of the cost, time, and skill.

The hole piercing & grommet insertion mechanism was designed as a consumable subassembly for quick switching between patients minimizing infection and improving throughput.

The mechanism is driven with a single axis piezo positioning stage which will ultimately be phased out and replaced with a lead screw mechanism, a force feedback sensor for safety and finally a fast moving solenoid for deploying the grommet.

We worked in tandem with the clinical team to understand the ergonomics and visual constraints of such a procedure. Step by step we whittled down our design options until we achieved an MVP solution.

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Press: SG Innovate