Design for risk control: the role of usability engineering in the management of use-related risks.

The majority of medical device incident reports can primarily be attributed to use error. Greater attention to human factors and usability during development of a medical device could improve this situation. However, recent studies have shown that companies do not find the application of a sound usability engineering process according to international standards a simple task.

Collaborative co-design of emerging multi-technologies for surgery.

The EU Research Training Network on Augmented Reality in Surgery (ARIS*ER) was established with two aims: (1) to develop next-generation novel image guidance (augmented reality based on medical images) and cross-linked robotic systems (automatic control loops guided by information sensed from the patient) and (2) to educate young researchers in the user-centred, multidisciplinary design of emerging technologies for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and intervention radiology. Collaborations between engineers, Human Factors specialists, industrial designers and medical end users were foreseen, but actual methodologies had to be developed. Three applications were used as development vehicles and as demonstrators.

Coping with different roles in intensive care nursing: design implications for digital support.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to arrive at design implications for the digital support of intensive care nurses, with a focus on supporting them in their roles as practitioners, as scholars and in their human response to their work.

Methods: Seventeen nurses from six different Dutch hospitals were interviewed using a newly developed digital prototype designed around these roles. The nurses were questioned about the suitability of four functions: two supporting the practitioner role ('web of actors' and 'timeline and notes'); one supporting the scholar role ('assessment of the patient'); and one supporting the role of human ('perception of the shift').

Endoclamp balloon visualization and automatic placement system.

Objectives: Aortic occlusion is one of the most important open discussions in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Different techniques can be employed, and all have benefits and drawbacks. The objective of our work is to improve the safety of internal aortic occlusion with the Port Access technique, which employs an endoclamp balloon catheter.

A mobile monitoring system of blood pressure for underserved in China by information and communication technology service.

High blood pressure (BP, hypertension) is a leading chronic condition in China and has become the main risk factor for many high-risk diseases, such as heart attacks. However, the platform for chronic disease measurement and management is still lacking, especially for underserved Chinese. To achieve the early diagnosis of hypertension, one BP monitoring system has been designed.