- Client:New Born Solutions
- Sector: Health
- Services: Design, Industrialization
- Year: 2022
- Team:
Design Lead, Ramon Martínez
Dissenyador Seniot de Producte, Ruben Belden
Responsable d'enginyeria, Miquel Pons
Neosonics is a unique ultrasound-based cell counting device that enables fast, easy and non-invasive screening and monitoring of serous fluids, with a focus on infant meningitis.
Newborn Solutions is a medical device startup founded between Fundación Madri+d and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The team was recognised with the EIT Health Catapult Medtech award (2020) and the Spanish Innovator under 35 award (2016).
Requirements
Transforming a black box concept into a fully functional and marketable medical device
When Xavi Jiménez (CEO) joined the Stimulo office in 2018, they had been working hard on a promising high-frequency ultrasound technology that could non-invasively count white blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid. The challenge was exciting and we wondered how Stimulo could help them transform this black box concept into a fully functional and marketable medical device?
process
Turning concepts into tangible prototypes
The challenge required precision mechanical engineering, electronic engineers, artificial intelligence and image processing experts, ultrasound scientists, product designers and, of course, a medical team. Together with NBS, a multidisciplinary team was created to work on the first of a long list of prototypes, which eventually allowed the team to bring to life a testable working prototype. Stimulo’s involvement covers user research, design analysis, product design, mechanical engineering and digital interaction design.
Users (health professionals) in the centre
Neonatologists, Paediatricians and Nurses are the main users of the device, so they are not just someone to ask for feedback, they are part of our ecosystem and a key member of the decision-making process, making sure the team understands the needs, recommendations, pains and gains. Stimulo has conducted multi-centric user interviews, workshops and focus groups, allowing the designers to get under their skin and gather first-hand feedback that forms the foundation of our work.
Value
Unique medical device that combines the physical and digital worlds
For the client:
A fully functional pilot test of 10 units of Neosonics V1, a sophisticated precision-engineered system that uses high-frequency ultrasound to non-invasively count white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid beneath the infant fontanel.
For doctors:
A new standard for detection and treatment monitoring. This probe will revolutionise the management and diagnosis of childhood meningitis by enabling fast and easy detection and quantitative, reliable and frequent treatment monitoring.
For hospitals:
Improving both the quality of health care and the sustainability of health systems.
For health care providers:
A fast, cost-effective and non-invasive tool for screening and treatment monitoring.
For babies and their parents:
Finally, and most importantly, babies and parents will benefit from an easier, quicker and non-invasive way of obtaining the diagnosis, avoiding the need to undergo a lumbar puncture.
With the insights and user stories gained from the research with clinicians, Stimulo was tasked with designing the digital interface for both the device and the probe, ensuring a holistic end-to-end user experience.
LEARNINGS
Innovation in its purest form
This project is a perfect example of what innovation means for us and how we deal with it. Will this solution work? How do we overcome this critical problem? Why did this proposal fail? How could we manage uncertainty… It is a risky illusion to pretend to plan for unexpected events, so we prefer to assume this as a natural part of the process. Scrum methodologies, the adapted agile philosophy and the division of the project into smaller parts, allows us to focus on the next immediate challenge, progressing and adapting the roadmap according to the current reality. It took multiple iterations, involving scientists, engineers, data analysts and project managers working side by side to achieve better results.
“The Stimulo team is a 5-star, at the top of our list of strategic partners. Their work is exquisite and the process to get there is superb. They have perfectly structured processes and are very organised, which favours agility in development. Their commitment is unquestionable, as is our appreciation for helping us realise our mission.
Javi Jiménez, CEO.
Awards and recognition
Newborn Solutions has been selected for the first cut of the EIC Accelerator’s 2022 call and raises €4.5 million: €2.5 million in funding and the rest in equity investment.