| _version_ | 1866901278571888640 |
|---|---|
| author | Hoveling, Tamara Robertshaw, Kenneth |
| author_facet | Hoveling, Tamara Robertshaw, Kenneth |
| contents | <p>The increasing demand for laparoscopic surgeries, with globally over 13 million procedures annually, has led to a rise in electronic waste (e-waste). An example of such a laparoscopic medical device is the endocutter, also called linear surgical stapler. This report presents circular redesign concepts for the endocutter, aiming to reduce its environmental impact through sustainable design principles and uncover insights for developing a circular design guide for medical devices. A combination of life cycle assessments (LCA) and expert feedback guided the exploration of four innovative design concepts: 1) Recyclable device—a fully recyclable endocutter designed for single use, 2) Partially reusable device—a hybrid design combining reusable and recyclable parts, emphasizing modularity and waste reduction, 3) Multifunctional device—a modular device with interchangeable shafts and reusable electronics to extend its lifespan, and 4) Manual device—a low-tech, manual version with minimal electronics to reduce environmental impact. The concepts were evaluated in two stages: feedback from MedTech experts assessing regulatory, safety, and technical challenges, followed by stakeholder validation through surveys. The evaluations provided insights into key criteria such as environmental impact, financial viability, functionality, usability, and regulatory compliance. The study outlined strategies to improve and promote circularity across the product lifecycle. The Partially Reusable Device emerged as the most favourable concept, balancing sustainability, functionality, and cost-effectiveness. Key recommendations from this design case study emphasize enhancing sustainability without sacrificing functionality, simplifying design to ease regulatory challenges, improving maintenance protocols, and exploring hybrid approaches. These recommendations provide actionable strategies for developing circular medical device designs and contribute to advancing sustainability in healthcare systems.</p> <p><br>This report is the result of DiCE task 2.4 and presents designers, engineers, and researchers in the circular-med-tech field with actionable insights into the circular design of medical devices.</p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_19453271 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Circular redesign of single use endocutters (D2.4) Hoveling, Tamara Robertshaw, Kenneth <p>The increasing demand for laparoscopic surgeries, with globally over 13 million procedures annually, has led to a rise in electronic waste (e-waste). An example of such a laparoscopic medical device is the endocutter, also called linear surgical stapler. This report presents circular redesign concepts for the endocutter, aiming to reduce its environmental impact through sustainable design principles and uncover insights for developing a circular design guide for medical devices. A combination of life cycle assessments (LCA) and expert feedback guided the exploration of four innovative design concepts: 1) Recyclable device—a fully recyclable endocutter designed for single use, 2) Partially reusable device—a hybrid design combining reusable and recyclable parts, emphasizing modularity and waste reduction, 3) Multifunctional device—a modular device with interchangeable shafts and reusable electronics to extend its lifespan, and 4) Manual device—a low-tech, manual version with minimal electronics to reduce environmental impact. The concepts were evaluated in two stages: feedback from MedTech experts assessing regulatory, safety, and technical challenges, followed by stakeholder validation through surveys. The evaluations provided insights into key criteria such as environmental impact, financial viability, functionality, usability, and regulatory compliance. The study outlined strategies to improve and promote circularity across the product lifecycle. The Partially Reusable Device emerged as the most favourable concept, balancing sustainability, functionality, and cost-effectiveness. Key recommendations from this design case study emphasize enhancing sustainability without sacrificing functionality, simplifying design to ease regulatory challenges, improving maintenance protocols, and exploring hybrid approaches. These recommendations provide actionable strategies for developing circular medical device designs and contribute to advancing sustainability in healthcare systems.</p> <p><br>This report is the result of DiCE task 2.4 and presents designers, engineers, and researchers in the circular-med-tech field with actionable insights into the circular design of medical devices.</p> |
| title | Circular redesign of single use endocutters (D2.4) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19453271 |