Abiomed Haptics: Femoral & Axillary Access

Pioneering VR Training for Medical Professionals, 2023.

Softwares: Jira, Confluence, Figma, Illustrator, Unity, Axure RP, Miro, Google Docs.

Client: Abiomed

Company: Fundamental Surgery

What

Revolutionizing Medical Education through Immersive VR Training

As a Product Designer at a VR med-tech company specializing in healthcare training, I had the honor of being the Primary Designer of a project that redefined medical education using cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) technology. The core focus of this endeavor was to provide healthcare professionals with an unprecedented opportunity to master femoral and axillary access procedures through immersive, hands-on experiences.

Why

Empowering Healthcare Professionals and Elevating Surgical Skills

In the realm of medical training, conventional methods have their limitations. Our project was motivated by the vision of breaking these boundaries and propelling medical education into the digital age. By crafting a VR experience that authentically replicated femoral and axillary access procedures, we aimed to empower medical professionals with a training platform that not only enriched their skills but also instilled unwavering confidence in performing these critical procedures in real-world clinical settings.

Process

Double Diamond - based (a mix of scrum & waterfall)

Design Review and Strategic Framework
At the project's inception, I meticulously established the design review and cycle processes, ensuring a seamless collaboration between teams. This strategic groundwork established a framework for efficient feedback channels and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.

Design Strategy and Task Orchestration
I meticulously compiled a comprehensive task backlog, each element accompanied by "How might we" design questions. This strategic approach ensured that every aspect of the project was methodically addressed. By orchestrating these tasks, I forged a dynamic design strategy that encompassed UI wireframes, instructional copywriting, and two-handed interaction considerations.

Storyboarding the Critical Sequence
Recognizing the pivotal nature of the initial needle insertion step in femoral access procedures, I crafted an intricate storyboard. Evolving from initial sketches to an interactive prototype using Axure RP, this storyboard served as a visual narrative, illustrating the VR user's actions and the tactile feedback they would experience through haptic devices.

User Journey, Enhanced into an Experience Map
Collaborating closely with a medical expert, we shaped a comprehensive user journey in Miro, moving beyond mere process steps to encompass learning objectives, product goals, and user emotions. This evolved into an immersive experience map, encompassing details like haptic feedback, assessment criteria, user interactions, and potential challenges.

User Flow and Feature Specifications
Through meticulous effort, I crafted a detailed user flow, in Miro, that provided engineers with a structured guide for seamless implementation. Simultaneously, I developed feature specifications (visualized in Illustrator), including specs on how to achieve all the possible user interactions as a trainee using the haptic devices, and a Unity prototype for an innovative tool-handling solution. This embodiment of creative problem-solving added a layer of innovation to the project's development.

UI Wireframing, Unity Implementation, and Prototyping
Transitioning seamlessly from design to implementation, I embarked on UI wireframing in Figma (UI colour palette and fonts as per client’s brand guidelines) and Unity development. This dual role manifested in the translation of design blueprints into immersive VR interactions. My hands-on involvement extended to the creation of a Unity-based <magic> sphere prototype, offering a groundbreaking solution for tool transitions between procedural steps.

Instructional Manuals for Seamless Experience
In the project's final phases, I meticulously devised comprehensive instructional manuals. These guides meticulously outlined optimal workstation configurations, encompassing haptic device placement, desk height, procedural walk-throughs, and other pivotal aspects. This final touch ensured a frictionless and productive user experience.

Takeaway

Innovating Healthcare Training and Beyond

This immersive VR project is a testament to the synergy of innovation, medical pedagogy, and technological prowess. The journey unearthed the significance of research-driven design, interdisciplinary synergy, and iterative refinement.

As the project concludes, it's opportune to reflect on aspects that warrant attention for future enhancements. In hindsight, I would advocate for the establishment of specific field-of-view parameters to ensure optimal UI placement, mitigating challenges posed by real-world devices such as C-arms. Additionally, addressing the variance between standard desk height and hospital bed height would refine the VR experience's fidelity for all users.

This landmark initiative has fortified my belief in the transformative power of VR to reshape medical training paradigms. The convergence of technology, design, and medical education augments our capacity to cultivate proficient healthcare professionals and elevate patient care to unprecedented heights.