Taking the sting out of hormone injections

The brief

Merck Serono, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, needed an auto injector for its Growth Hormone Therapy product, Saizen. The brief was to create a device that would make administering the treatment easier for their patients.

What we did

To understand the challenge, our behavioural psychologists, designers and engineers all met with children, parents and adult users, as well as a range of medical practitioners. Through this, we gained an understanding of the day-to-day practical (and emotional) challenges involved. This drove the development of features aimed at issues like needle phobia and pain. It became clear that the design had to consider the more subtle aspects of embodying confidence and control – how could our design do this? Everything from the product identity to the interaction design was developed to strike a balance between the approachability of mainstream electronic aesthetics and the seriousness and trust engendered through the visual language of existing medical products. The result was easypod®, a non-threatening, easy-to-use device which simplifies patients’ lives.

Result

easypod® is the first electro-mechanical device for injection of medicinal products. It’s easy to use, doses can be preprogramed, all operation steps are displayed clearly on the LCD screen, it offers a number of settings in order to fine-tune the comfort of the injection and it’s safe. All of this results in a product that not only simplifies patients’ lives but aids therapy compliance. 

Client's Comments

"We are extremely encouraged by the response to easypod® from our young patients and their parents, as well as from nurses and physicians. It has been extremely well received; bringing additional benefits to the often sensitive task of administering daily therapy to children and young adults … this device is easy to use and reliable."

Dr. Jovanna Dahlgren, Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital, Gothenburg