Ezra Lee
Research Mentor: Josh Herzog
Mentor Department: Mechanical Engineering, Engineering
Author(s): Ezra Lee, Joshua Herzog
Session: Session 4 (1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 18
Abstract
Currently, there is a prevalent communication gap between the engineers who build biomedical devices and the clinicians who use them. This project aims to quantify this disconnect by identifying areas of misalignment and agreement between these two stakeholder groups within the American healthcare system. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach. We developed a survey targeting professional biomedical engineers, clinical practitioners, and medical students to identify divergent priorities in device design. Following data collection, quantitative analysis of the priorities of stakeholders was used to inform iterative prototyping of a heart rate monitor test the feasibility of balancing clinician needs with the inherent constraints of engineering. Early literature review and survey trends indicate a meaningfully high level of dissonance in stakeholder objectives: clinicians prioritize cost-effectiveness while engineers emphasize technical performance. Initial regulatory analysis also shows that regulations further exacerbate this disconnect, as the FDA approval process generally does not take financials into account. Heart monitor prototypes illustrate that “design-for-cost” models could maintain high-quality features while also addressing concerns regarding resource waste and accessibility. Upon completion, this study will illuminate the disconnect between clinicians and engineers while simultaneously providing a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration within the United States regulatory environment.
