A cyclic design approach applied to a cervical screening device

The research presented in this paper describes the use of a novel multidisciplinary design methodology. Various design methodologies are reviewed and evaluated in terms of their capability to be used for the effective design of a medical device. The design of such devices requires knowledge from other disciplines that is often subjective and does not readily apply the traditional mechanical engineering design techniques. This research focuses on the design of a laboratory-based system and examines how a multidisciplinary team can work to ensure that a creative idea can become an innovative product. The proposed methodology offers an iterative framework that designers can use and adopt to be relevant to their particular application. This proposed framework uses some of the ideas from other methodologies as well as ensuring that the key aim of understanding the problem is incorporated. This is achieved by information gathering and evaluation activities. The proposed framework is presented in the context of a medical exemplar, involving the design of a device for use in the diagnostic evaluation of cervical smears. The use of the methodology is illustrated by considering the key interactions and by describing how the problem was refined and resolved within the multidisciplinary team. This illustrates how using goal-driven approaches can lead to effective interactions and to a method by which laboratory-based approaches can lead to innovative products.