104
D. L. Teodorescu et al.
Fig. 9.2 Range of motion demonstrated as shown from inside SurgiBox
9.4 Discussion
9.4.1 Ongoing and Future Research
Our efforts to further optimize SurgiBox with our existing iterative prototyping workflow are ongoing. At the time of submission, we are completing two major prototyping
tasks in parallel. First, we are preparing advanced human factors testing with fulllength simulated procedures. Second, we are optimizing for manufacturability. To
date, the latter efforts have yielded over 12-fold decrease in system cost. The costdetermining portions are fully reusable between patients for an estimated 10,000
cases depending on airflow requirement, based on the life expectancies of the battery
and the filter cartridge, both of which are replaceable to permit continued use of the
system.
The patient-contact components are ideally disposable because in many cases
setting up reliable reprocessing can in fact be more logistically challenging than
stockpiling disposable components, especially ones of minimal bulk. In any case,
once the design has been optimized, it will be important to continue work with
medical logisticians and hospital administrators to estimate the setup and recurring
costs that constitute the total cost of ownership needed to meet each institution’s
needs, based on procedures and personnel.
In addition, the current experimental setup has two main limitations. First,
although particle testing is a well-validated way to obtain dynamic measurements
D. L. Teodorescu et al.
Fig. 9.2 Range of motion demonstrated as shown from inside SurgiBox
9.4 Discussion
9.4.1 Ongoing and Future Research
Our efforts to further optimize SurgiBox with our existing iterative prototyping workflow are ongoing. At the time of submission, we are completing two major prototyping
tasks in parallel. First, we are preparing advanced human factors testing with fulllength simulated procedures. Second, we are optimizing for manufacturability. To
date, the latter efforts have yielded over 12-fold decrease in system cost. The costdetermining portions are fully reusable between patients for an estimated 10,000
cases depending on airflow requirement, based on the life expectancies of the battery
and the filter cartridge, both of which are replaceable to permit continued use of the
system.
The patient-contact components are ideally disposable because in many cases
setting up reliable reprocessing can in fact be more logistically challenging than
stockpiling disposable components, especially ones of minimal bulk. In any case,
once the design has been optimized, it will be important to continue work with
medical logisticians and hospital administrators to estimate the setup and recurring
costs that constitute the total cost of ownership needed to meet each institution’s
needs, based on procedures and personnel.
In addition, the current experimental setup has two main limitations. First,
although particle testing is a well-validated way to obtain dynamic measurements