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TTP worked with SymPhysis Medical to transform patient care for recurrent pleural effusion, a symptom of end-stage cancers (including lung cancer and breast cancer), through an innovative catheter and drainage system for independent use at home.
Context:
SymPhysis Medical partnered with TTP to develop a novel at-home drainage solution to work with its innovative catheter system, to improve at-home treatment for patients with recurrent pleural effusion.
Solution:
TTP’s experts in human-centred design and medical device development designed an intuitive at-home drainage “hub”, prioritising ease-of-use, performance and integration in the home environment.
Result:
SymPhysis Medical’s “releaze” system empowers patients to manage their condition independently, with clear feedback for ease of use and faster treatment times. The system is intuitive to use, reassures patients, and gives them invaluable independence.
An innovative drainage solution for late-stage cancer care at home
As cancer care increasingly moves from healthcare environments into patients’ homes, medical devices need to meet a new set of design challenges. To reduce the user burden and encourage adherence, these devices must be intuitive to use, ensuring patients feel confident that they are administering their treatment correctly.
In addition to delivering safe and effective therapy, they must be efficient, seamlessly integrating into the patient’s daily life and home environment.
Conventional care for patients with recurrent pleural effusion
Patients with recurrent pleural effusion require regular drainage to manage symptoms such as breathlessness and discomfort. The conventional care for these patients involves repeated hospital visits for fluid drainage or reliance on caregivers to manually perform the procedure at home. These methods can be inconvenient, uncomfortable and emotionally taxing for both patients and their families. Additionally, delays in drainage can lead to worsening symptoms, reduced quality of life, and increased risk of complications.
Creating a companion to SymPhysis Medical’s catheter technology
SymPhysis Medical has developed an innovative catheter system that, unlike existing solutions, enables users to drain fluid at home without having to rely on the assistance of others. SymPhysis asked TTP to design an active drainage solution, or “hub”, as a companion to its drainage access technology.
SymPhysis Medical sought a solution that would:
- Improve confidence and adherence through clear feedback and reassurance during treatment.
- Improve patient comfort through efficient electromechanical, controlled-pressure drainage.
- Offer outstanding ease-of-use by making drainage straightforward, intuitive and error-free.
A drainage hub designed for ease-of-use, performance and home integration
SymPhysis Medical chose TTP for its previous experience in the development of medical devices that deliver electromechanical, controlled-pressure therapy.
In addition, TTP brought extensive experience in early consideration for medical device usability, ensuring that the user is considered right from the initial stages of development to prioritise user experience alongside safety and efficiency. This not only supports regulatory compliance but also enhances product acceptance and effectiveness in real-world settings.
The drainage hub offers:
- Guided user experience: Visual, tactile, and auditory feedback ensures patients can confidently complete the process without external assistance; for example, prompts inform the user that the hub is closed and when drainage has been achieved.
- Efficient performance: A fast, automated drainage cycle minimises treatment time, reducing disruption to daily life.
- Easy monitoring: The volume of fluid drained is displayed on the top of the device for day-by-day monitoring.
- Seamless home integration: A stable, compact form factor designed for domestic settings makes storage and handling easy. To guard against the hub being knocked over, the overall form was selected for stability during use.
- Sustainable design: The system minimises plastic waste by incorporating sterile collection bags rather than bulky disposables.
“Our experience with medical devices and other electromechanical, controlled-pressure products meant that we were able to rapidly conceive and assess a wide range of potential solutions. The chosen design reduces the number of use steps to provide an easy route to at-home treatment at the same time as delivering advanced performance and reliability.”
Rob Selby, Principal consultant and Programme lead, TTP
Outlook
The future of healthcare at home depends on solutions that are intuitive, clinically effective, and seamlessly integrated into patients’ lives. TTP specialises in turning complex medical challenges into practical innovations that empower patients and improve quality of life.
