Image of a nurse at working at night using a tablet. the light is illuminating her faceMedical professional in blue scrubs looks at a tablet screen smiling
Cydar

Real-time 3D surgery visualisation with Cydar

With the goal of improving patient experience, we went into the operating theatre with Cydar. After observing and conducting research, we delivered a design system for a user interface that enhanced their visualisation capabilities for endovascular surgery.

The challenge

  • Design the user interface for technology used during endovascular surgery

  • Execute digital design within a surgical workflow

Our approach

  • Immersive research inside the operating theatre

  • Worked closely with surgeons, radiographers and surgical support staff to understand limitations of the first-generation product

A black-and-white photo of several medical professionals working together in an office setting.

Understanding the challenge

Improvements that make a difference

Cydar are a leading provider of cloud-based services that fuse images of patient data with live, x-ray images to provide real-time 3D visualisations of endovascular systems. Using their services reduces radiation risks and patient exposure to chemicals. It also enhances surgical workflow, dramatically improving patient outcomes. After getting feedback from medical professionals who use their system in operating theatres, Cydar acknowledged that they needed to deploy significant usability and user experience improvements. They asked Foolproof to work with them to understand the opportunities.

Three surgeons in full scrubs and surgical masks in an operating theatre carrying out an operation
Two women are standing in front of a screen showing some images of a heart, one woman is interacting with the screen.
Images on a screen of a 3D visualisation of an endovascular system

Research

Observation in an extraordinary context

To get close enough see the context-of-use through the eyes of practitioners, we had to learn the vocabulary of surgery in this field. We also got inside the operating theatre to observe the workflows of surgical teams during surgery.

Through these observation sessions and interviews with surgeons, radiographers, and support staff, we leveraged user-centred principles to design, test and iterate improvements to the interface and visualisation system.

Black and white photo of screens and monitors for observing keyhole surgery

Research

Gathering critical insight

Initial stakeholder workshops at Cydar’s Cambridgeshire HQ enabled us to understand the business context and agree the goals for design. It was also our introduction to the unique complexity of the system and users' context. To evaluate their current experience and gather critical insights, we conducted a series of interviews with surgeons already using the system in two UK hospitals. Quickly, it became clear that the surgical users had a very low tolerance for unnecessary ‘clutter’ and non-critical functionality. They also had clear opinions on what they needed from the system to help them make better decisions. In these interviews and in subsequent testing, it was very important that we spoke to the participants using the language of their practice. While a steep learning curve for our researchers and designers, it established a level of trust with the surgical staff that was invaluable. It also facilitated a much deeper level of understanding.

Over the shoulder view of a person using a tablet to sketch
Annotated sketches of initial functionality on a tablet

Design

Context-driven design

To understand how surgeons interacted with the system during an operation, the most revealing research was conducted during live surgery. The learnings from these sessions provided fundamental, environmental and behavioural insights that had a significant impact on the design. These types of in-depth insights could not have be gained through interviews alone.

A medical professional is interacting with a patient, both are seated.

The solution

Taking the insights from research, we sketched initial concepts for interface components and screens. After testing these concepts with surgeons, we evolved them into high-fidelity screens and a prototype. When testing the prototype, we discovered that the smallest elements of the interface had the biggest impact and provided most value to the surgeons, which forced us to focus on micro-interactions that we may have overlooked otherwise. At its core, the project was all about applying solid experience design methods to extraordinary new environments. Armed with a whole new vocabulary, we relentlessly focused on surgical outcomes. Or, as Tom Carrell co-founder of Cydar put it, "Ultimately, it is all about improving the patient experience".

Testimonial

The proof of the project’s success lies in the adoption of the Cydar EV product by our customers into routine clinical use.

Tom Carrell — CEO, Cydar

X-ray image from endovascular surgery
3D imagery from endovascular surgery

Result

Widespread clinical adoption

Since this project was completed, we have continued to support Cydar with other elements of their product range. This support includes further refining of the experiences that surgeons have when using Cydar’s range of surgical tools.

A medical professional is shown looking at a tablet screen, her expression is impartial.

Activities

Qualitative research, depth interviews, prototyping, information architecture, user interface design and interaction design.

Delivery

Iterative research and design sprints on a two-week cycle.

Contact us

Like what you see?

We'd love to partner with you. Contact Ed, on ed@foolproof.co.uk

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