User-centered design: the key to building a successful product

Prosthetics have come a long way in recent years, with advances in technology and materials making them more functional, energy efficient, and aesthetically pleasing than ever before. Yet, despite these advances, poor socket fit remains a critical problem that affects amputees worldwide. Globally, a leg is amputated every 30 seconds, and unfortunately, many of these amputees experience discomfort and even pain due to the misfit between their residual leg and prosthetic socket. This can cause chafing, pressure sores, and a range of other issues, which leads to 50% of lower limb amputees abandoning their prostheses altogether.

The team at Vessl Prosthetics Inc., part of the Brampton Venture Zone (BVZ), recognized this problem and set out to develop a solution that would address it. Vessl's journey began with a visit to a diabetes clinic, where they met many amputees struggling with poor socket fit. Witnessing firsthand the impact this had on their daily lives and their ability to remain independent and healthy, the Vessl team was inspired to develop a better solution. Vessl's isoform socket is the first and only socket that automatically adjusts as amputees' legs change size, thanks to its patent-pending technology that redistributes pressure around the leg to maintain a snug fit. This technology makes it more comfortable and accessible for amputees with poor dexterity or sensation loss. Additionally, it reduces pressure extremes that often lead to wound development, so amputees can walk around all day comfortably, improving their health and allowing them to remain independent longer.

However, the success of Vessl's product is not just due to their innovative technology. It's also a result of their user-centered design approach, which puts the needs and experiences of amputees at the forefront of their product development process.

User-centered design is a method that can be applied to any design project, including prosthetics. The engineering design process consists of several steps, with user-centered design playing a critical role in two of them: problem identification and solution validation.

In the problem identification phase, designers seek to understand the challenges and needs of the user. This includes identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement in existing solutions. By engaging with amputees and prosthetists, Vessl Prosthetics was able to identify a critical problem with existing prosthetic sockets: poor socket fit, which can lead to chaffing and pressure sores, ultimately leading to prosthesis abandonment. They also learned that the current gold standard for dealing with poor socket fit is sock ply management, where amputees layer prosthetic socks beneath their socket several times a day to accommodate for their changing leg size. Unfortunately, this is difficult to learn and can lead to pressure sores if performed poorly. Additionally, prosthetists spend countless hours on sock ply education, which they are not reimbursed for. If sock ply management does not sufficiently solve the problem, amputees will visit their prosthetist to modify the socket, which is time-consuming and only provides a temporary solution. This phase is critical because no one knows the problem you are solving as much as the people experiencing it.

The solution validation phase is where designers test and validate potential solutions with users to ensure that they meet the user's needs and preferences. This is where user-centered design is particularly important, as it ensures that the solution is not only technically feasible but also meets the user's expectations and requirements. Vessl Prosthetics is currently working with amputees and prosthetists at five healthcare centers in the American Veterans Health Administration to validate their isoform socket design. Through video callnabs and in-person demonstrations, Vessl is gathering feedback from users to improve their design and ensure that it meets the needs of its intended users. They are also gathering useful feedback and recommendations to inform future testing and usability.

One of the key advantages of user-centered design in prosthetics is that it can lead to more successful outcomes for users. When designers prioritize the user's needs and experiences, they are more likely to create a solution that is comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. This can lead to higher levels of user satisfaction and increased usage of the prosthetic, reducing the number of abandoned prostheses and the associated costs to prosthetists.

Another advantage of user-centered design is that it can lead to innovation and breakthroughs in the field of prosthetics. By engaging with users and prosthetists, designers can gain a better understanding of the limitations and opportunities in current prosthetic solutions. This can lead to the development of new technologies and approaches that improve the current standards of practice, leading to better outcomes for amputees and prosthetists alike.

For other entrepreneurs looking to go through this process, Vessl Prosthetics Inc. offers some valuable advice. They recommend spending time with your target audience to understand their needs and pain points, engaging with industry experts and stakeholders to gain insights and build relationships, and seeking out support and resources from programs like BVZ. Instead of simply designing a product in isolation, Vessl engaged in problem validation with both customers (prosthetists) and users (amputees) to ensure their product addressed the real needs and concerns of those who would be using it. Through discussions with amputees and prosthetists, Vessl uncovered the limitations of current market solutions and validated the critical problem of limb volume change that these solutions do not adequately address.

User engagement also keeps you motivated to find a solution when things are not going your way. Product design is challenging and there are many moments start-ups face that make them question if they are doing the right thing. When you are constantly engaging with your end users, you are continuously motivated to help them solve their problem and that motivation can carry you through some of the toughest entrepreneurial moments.

As Vessl continues to develop and refine their product, their focus on user-centered design ensures that they are creating a solution that truly meets the needs of amputees. The isoform socket is an innovative solution to a critical problem that has been overlooked for too long and whose design arose simply from listening to those who use sockets every single day. By putting the user at the center of their design process, Vessl is creating a product that has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.