CLOUDY PICC

What it does

Cloudy Picc is a modular medical device for intravenous administration. It facilitates implantation and maintenance, reduces errors and clutter, and improves comfort and management for patients and caregivers. More convenience, safety and humanity in care.

Your inspiration

Two years ago I lost my mom to breast cancer. Living with her during my illness has inspired in me a deep determination to serve those who, like her, face the challenges of life. This personal experience fueled my desire to contribute to the improvement of care conditions for cancer patients, inspiring me to embark on a path of study in the medical and health field. The idea of being able to alleviate, even in part, the difficulties that patients and families face on a daily basis has led me to tackle this problem with commitment and dedication.

How it works

The PICC is an invasive device equipped with lumens for drug entry. I wanted to allow the lumens to be disconnected from the PICC body by using Needle Free Connectors (NFCs): needle-free connectors. Inserting a syringe into the NFCs and rotating 90 degrees opens the pathway for fluid to pass through; rotating in the opposite direction closes it automatically, preventing reflux of fluid. I decided to resize and integrate the NFCs into the PICC body, facilitating the connection and disconnection of the lumens. To facilitate insertion of the lumens, stiffeners with guides were designed for proper grip. The lumens are fitted with plugs with saline-soaked sponge to maintain sterility. After use, the lumens are sterilized and stored in a case. The fixation device (patch to secure the PICC on the patient's arm) has been adapted with a front cap to protect the front inlets of the Cloudy Picc.

Design process

After breast cancer research, I analysed the oncology pathway of metastasised patients, focusing on M1 therapy, which aims to control the disease for long periods. For these therapies, vascular approaches such as PICC are used. I started by studying the morphology of the PICC and then I interviewed nurses who work in the implant, medication and management of the PICCs of the hospitals of Ancona, Loreto and Ascoli Piceno, collecting feedback on frequent problems and verifying the feasibility of my idea. A survey with the association "Silent Cancer", involving 323 users, confirmed that the main difficulties concern infections, hygiene, sleep, physical activities, social relations and aesthetic discomfort. After a careful analysis and prototyping phase, I checked the size of the Cloudy Picc compared to the traditional model to make sure that it did not vary excessively after the addition of the NFC inside the body of the PICC. For the materials, I chose to keep those of the traditional PICC, such as radiopaque polyurethane for the catheter and liquid silicone rubber for the central body, with rigid elements in TECAPEEK for medical use.

How it is different

The Cloudy Picc offers many benefits for both healthcare professionals and patients. For the personnel, the smaller footprint of the device simplifies installation and maintenance maneuvers, reducing time and risk of error. For patients, however, the ability to disassemble the lights significantly improves comfort, mobility and convenience. This feature also promotes greater safety and psychological well-being, as patients can more easily handle the device and reduce associated discomfort. As patients live with PICC for long periods of time, it is crucial to consider that the fight against a cancer is already in itself a complex challenge. Relieving the weight of an invasive device, both aesthetically and mechanically, helps to improve their quality of life, allowing them to live in a more dignified and less impactful way.

Future plans

The Cloudy Picc is not just a project, but the fruit of many authentic voices that spoke to me with sincerity and courage. I would like to see more than just an idea: I would like to further research, test the operation and refine technical solutions. The support I received along the way gave me the impetus to believe in a concrete evolution. Believing in the Cloudy Picc means believing in a more dignified life for those living with the disease. For this dream to carry it forward and, one day, make it a really available device for those who face long and complex therapies.

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