Medical Device Design & User Experience for Cataract and Glaucoma Treatment at Carl Zeiss
Carl Zeiss commissioned Milani to develop several innovation projects for new medical devices. For the VISALIS 500, an integrated workstation for the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma, Milani was involved from an early stage of development. Functionality, ergonomics, user experience, and the new design language were developed together in record time.
The VISALIS 500 received a Red Dot Design Award Honorable Mention in 2011.
Challenge: A Surgical Device for Different Users and Operating Room Settings
With the VISALIS 500, Carl Zeiss planned a product innovation that would combine the most important devices used in ophthalmic surgery in a single system. Milani was involved early in the development process to optimize the new medical device for usability and meet its complex requirements. The surgical device was intended for international use in different medical environments. During surgical procedures, it needed to be operated by different users, both within and outside the sterile zone.
Approach: User Research and Usability Testing in the Clinical Environment
To ensure excellent usability for all users, particularly ophthalmologists and surgical assistants, Milani conducted user needs research in hospitals across Europe. Based on these findings, the user guidance was designed and optimized through an iterative process. Milani developed prototypes and repeatedly tested them with different users in a variety of application contexts. This allowed product design, ergonomics, and the graphical user interface to be aligned with actual workflows and user needs in the operating room from an early stage of development.
The user research and prototype testing revealed an important insight: the VISALIS 500 is often used by ophthalmologists and their teams who only work at the hospitals on certain days and therefore do not use the device regularly. In response, Milani developed animated step-by-step instructions as part of the innovation process, enabling these teams, as well as other users, to quickly and easily familiarize themselves with the device.
Result: Intuitive Operation in a Compact, Modular System
The VISALIS 500 combines ergonomically optimized medical device design with intuitive user guidance and a compact, modular architecture. The user guidance and animated step-by-step instructions make it easier for users who do not work with the VISALIS 500 regularly to quickly familiarize themselves with its operation. The compact system combines multiple functions for ophthalmic surgery within a small footprint. Its modular architecture allows the VISALIS 500 to be expanded from phacoemulsification to include functions for vitreoretinal procedures, enabling the system to adapt flexibly to different ophthalmic applications and requirements.
The Red Dot jury also highlighted the VISALIS 500 for its intuitive operation, high quality, and space-saving design. In 2011, the medical device received an Honorable Mention at the Red Dot Design Award.
Milani Services
- User Research and Needs Assessments in Hospitals
- Innovation concepts
- Medical product design
- Product design and ergonomic concepts
- Usability testing
- Graphical user interface design
- Hygiene concepts
- Animated User Instructions
