INTRECTOR PORTABLE VITRECTOMY SYSTEM

A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure where the clinician removes the vitreous humor gel that fills the eye cavity. Use cases include clearing blood and debris from the eye, scar tissue removal, and alleviating retina traction. Once the surgery is complete, saline, a gas bubble, or silicone oil may be injected into the vitreous gel to help hold the retina in position. Synectic was approached by Insight Instruments to redesign a device that dual injects a drug and vitrectomy through a single opening in the eye. The double injection process allows the procedure to move from a surgical setting into an office environment. The biggest challenge was incorporating the two functions into one single portable device.

Synectic assessed the company’s existing vitrectomy system and determined what pain points need addressing. The handpiece was determined to be heavy and allowed moisture to buildup inside the device. Our industrial designers developed a new handpiece emphasizing human factors and customer feedback. Simultaneously, our product design engineers re-engineered the internal motor eliminating a potential overheating problem. We insulated the device and improved the internal seals to prevent moisture buildup. Additionally, we designed a piece of capital equipment in conjunction with the handpiece that could simultaneously measure and control oscillation speed. The control box featured dual power sources: rechargeable battery and A/C. Finally, we designed, developed, and tested packaging.