Communicating a clinical problem to the engineers: towards a common methodology.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Translational Research
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Effective communication between clinical professionals and engineers is crucial for successful translational research.
• Lack of a standardized method can hinder the development of medical devices addressing specific clinical needs.
• Orthognathic surgery planning presents complex challenges in information transfer from clinical practice to surgical implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a structured, seven-step method for effectively communicating clinical problems to engineering teams.
• To demonstrate the application of this method using an orthognathic surgery planning improvement project.
• To facilitate focused collaboration between clinicians and engineers in the development of novel medical devices.

Main Methods:

• Description of a seven-step design process tailored for interdisciplinary communication.
• Application of the process within a case study focused on enhancing orthognathic surgery planning and operating room information transfer.
• Utilizing a symmetrical problem/solution model to frame the communication and development process.

Main Results:

• The seven-step design process provides a clear framework for clinicians to articulate problems to engineers.
• The case study illustrates successful application in improving orthognathic surgery planning and data transfer.
• The method promotes a shared understanding and focus on device development.

Conclusions:

• Adoption of the seven-step design process can significantly improve clinician-engineer communication in translational research.
• This structured approach is a key step towards the successful development of devices for specific clinical problems.
• Facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for advancing medical technology and patient care.