POLYPECTOMY SNARE
the inspiration
Mechanisms for our polypectomy snare were derived from both low-fidelity sketches and real-life objects. For example, our device needed a component that would retract and extend the sheath. A trigger mechanism , specifically one that would resemble a spray-bottle, would do the trick.
The buildup
Through our modeling, building, and 2-D printing, our designs focused on comfortability and efficiency. The dimensions of the handle of our device needed to match the dimensions of our target users. Additionally, the mechanism by which the snare worked needed to be simple!
"Make your device less bulky..."
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"Increase the size of the handle..."
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"Make sure it has no sharp edges..."
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"It is hard to use, so you would want to remove any unnecessary parts!"
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The feedback
From asking students to interviewing doctors, we were able to receive many valuable insights about what our devices needed to achieve our overall goals of increasing user comfortability and reducing procedural complications. Check out the comments on the left!
the adjustments
We learned that it was easier and more effective to have the shape of our handle be driven by the users' hand! We also strove to use low-cost and handy materials such as Styrofoam, PLA, and even Play-Doh, since we were focused on creating a functional, and not costly, device.
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Finally, we replaced the sliding mechanism of the original snare, with a much simpler trigger mechanism, to cut polyps more efficiently!