Science fiction to fact
Learn how an industry giant turned to TE to become "first to market" in the NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery) field.
Our Design client wished to pioneer the future of surgery by conducting an appendectomy through the mouth. To gain first mover advantage in the NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery) field, this industry giant turned to TE to become "first to market." In what was a completely new means of conducting an appendectomy, two challenges emerged. Firstly, how to reduce the size of the appendix to extract it through the mouth and secondly, how to create a sterile access and retrieval pathway through the body? Our client recognised that it was best positioned to solve the first challenge but had internal resource and expertise gaps to deliver on the second challenge. This is when they turned to us.
Blending our proven design process with our expertise in access sheaths, ultra long needles and catheters, we set about the design of a product suite to create a sterile gastrointestinal access portal. 18 months later an access solution was delivered by the design team, incorporating advanced steering in an outer sheath; a puncture needle with retractable protection system and a unique biocompatible printed inner balloon catheter. All elements of the system were compatible with the client's appendectomy device and standard endoscope designs. Claiming an industry first, our partner successfully completed it's First in Human study and filed multiple IP in this revolutionary field.
