Working for Chinese medical manufacturer, Arahelio, IDC redesigned one of their most popular
products – the disposable electrosurgical pencil. With consistent product sales, it had initially
been a low priority for redesign, but Arahelio recognised the opportunity to
develop a new device which offered the same good value but with new features
that would make it even more appealing to medical staff in the future. Arahelio chose to work with IDC’s design team
in Shanghai, with their reputation for innovation in the medical sector.
The disposable electric surgical pen is used during common surgical operations to cut and cauterise human tissue, and consists of a penlike shape with a tip, handle, and connecting cable for electrical heating. The first stage of the redesign involved ergonomic research, so the team could understand which areas were a priority to improve the performance of the device. This research took place in the hospital, observing surgical procedures and by interviewing medical staff to get a clear direction for the design.