Industrial - Bachelors
Quill is a clinical tool that enhances patient involvement, control, and communication during the first-line stages of the endometriosis diagnosis journey. Within common procedures of transvaginal ultrasounds and physical exams, the device provides patients with a voice to express their discomfort, ensuring a more collaborative and efficient diagnostic process.
1 in 9 suffer with endometriosis in Australia. Yet, it takes an agonising 7 years to receive a formal diagnosis.
(Australian Government Department of Health, 2023; AIHW, 2019)
The aim of this project was to reduce the diagnostic delay and enhance the patient experience for individuals suspected of endometriosis. Literature explored the complex landscape of the condition and the barriers that extend this delay. This included a lack of awareness and understanding about endometriosis, dismissal of patients’ pain, and challenges in accessing healthcare. The gold standard is currently laparoscopic surgery, which poses its own challenges and risks that clinicians need to evaluate and justify through patient history.
Primary research included a survey, and 6 conducted interviews with endometriosis patients and other key stakeholders. The findings from this highlighted a recurring theme of patient-clinician interactions. All endometriosis patients reinforced a power dynamic between clinician and patient in healthcare. These included personal anecdotes requiring the need for someone to believe the severity, confidence, and the changing perceptions of pain being normal.
Initial concepts were shaped by recurring insights from the research, pinpointing various intervention points in the patient journey. Implications included early intervention, clinical translation, accessibility, affordability, intuitive design, and patient-centred care.
Upon further review and feedback from participants, the ultrasound tool emerged as the preferred choice. The project direction was then focused on promoting patient autonomy and fostering collaboration in the early stages of transvaginal ultrasounds and pelvic assessments. Patients hope for non-surgical methods, though their experiences need to be equally valued.
If you have endo, you know that an internal ultrasound is not easy… I just cried all day, and they didn’t find anything. So why am I in pain? Clearly, I’m in pain for a reason.
Participant 3 [from interviews]
‘Quill’ empowers patients by quantifying their experiences in real time, recording experienced discomfort in the examination process. Its interface includes a soft silicone pressure-sensitive grip, allowing patients to express their pain intensity emotively, while voice activation from clinicians specifying anatomical areas timestamps this relevant information. This design encourages clinicians to communicate transparently with patients, enhancing the overall experience.
The device’s clamp feature provides patients with the autonomy to self-place medical instruments, such as the transvaginal probe, prioritizing their comfort and boundaries. The form of the design is also angled to ensure an ergonomic positioning for the patient.
The patients’ journey differs from the traditional methods as they have more control of the situation, reducing anxiety before the assessment. Understanding that their pain experiences were recorded, patients can leave the clinic knowing that this information is valued and providing them confidence even if results were deemed negative.
Together, this data will provide an efficient patient journey through the following:
Enhanced Sensitivity: EVUS-assisted pain mapping improves sensitivity in detecting abnormalities during laparoscopy (Yong, 2013).
Comprehensive Consideration: A more comprehensive approach based on the patient’s history and clinical findings is recommended for early and accurate detection (Riazi et al., 2015).
Soft Markers: Site specific tenderness soft markers increases the likelihood of detecting superficial endometriosis and adhesions. (Guerriero et al., 2016).
Jaida is an industrial designer with a passion for creating products that connect, empathise, and empower people. Her work leads in sketching, systems thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration. With real-world experiences in manufacturing, she also offers a blend of creativity and practicality to her design approach.