Kestrel partnered with and project managed 10 other companies to develop functional prototypes for usability testing
Background:
Ophthalmic surgery is delicate, time-consuming and highly-skilled. Surgeons are under constant pressure to reduce operating times while maintaining quality and consistency.
Requirement
A leading ophthalmic surgeon and innovator identified an opportunity for a device that would improve the quality of surgical outcomes and avoid repeat procedures while reducing surgery times.
Response
Kestrel were approached to take the design idea from initial concept selection through to prototype design development and testing, with the aim of conducting a laboratory trial with ophthalmic surgeons.
Kestrel managed a programme with a team of medical device development experts, human factors specialists and precision prototype fabricators to develop and deliver functional prototypes for testing in a hospital lab.
Result
A trial of the device with six surgeons was successfully completed in 2022 with favourable feedback on the benefits of the design both for patients and surgeons.
Next steps include pursuing options for commercialisation with industrial partners.