EndoAware
EndoAware was our solution to the CBI A3 brief for 2022-23. Designing for 2030, we developed a blueprint for a population-based screening program as well as the medical imaging device and consulting spaces to go along with it to drastically reduce the diagnosis time for Australian women living with endometriosis.
As a team of designers with backgrounds in Industrial Design, Communication Design, and User Experience Design, we were focused on reducing the diagnosis time for endometriosis, an uncurable reproductive condition, from up to 10 years to under one year. Almost eight months of research, development, and testing got us there.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting 1 in 9 Australian women where the tissue lining the uterus begins to grow in other areas around the body. It causes intense pain, fatigue, irregular menstruation, and other health risks if nothing is done to mitigate them. Diagnosing endometriosis is challenging with modern technology limitations, meaning it could take up to a decade to be diagnosed, with invasive abdominal surgery being the only accurate way to identify tissue growth. The lack of awareness around endometriosis, and reproductive and sexual health in general, also means doctors often dismiss concerns as typical menstruation symptoms.
Throughout the diagnostic journey for those with endometriosis, patients may be sent for multiple blood tests, abdomen and pelvic ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans, all of which usually provide inconclusive results and make the diagnosis even more difficult.
Let’s fast forward to 2030. Imagine if efficient and affordable healthcare was accessible to everyone, and people felt empowered to voice their health concerns.
-
EndoAware
The EndoAware program travels regional Australia, and eligible participants are alerted when the program is in their area. At their first appointment in Wellness Wheels, Endobot scans the patient's pelvic area, which is then sent for analysis by a specialist. The specialist can determine an accurate endometriosis diagnosis and design a recommended management plan for the patient, which they receive at a follow-up appointment a few days later.
Following the introduction of Australia's national endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, the program is driven by increased awareness and empowerment, delivering crucial healthcare services to those who previously have not had access.
-
Wellness Wheels
Wellness Wheels is an autonomous vehicle providing transportable consulting spaces for the EndoAware program and other remote healthcare applications. The vehicle is divided into two rooms, one for the initial screen and the other for follow-up appointments, with the ability to be opened into one larger space as needed. The spaces are warm and inviting (not like your standard medical facilities) to encourage people to feel comfortable talking openly about their reproductive health.
By 2030, we envision pantograph fast chargers being implemented in Australia’s road infrastructure, meaning Wellness Wheels can be charged quickly during transport.
-
EndoBot
Endobot is a portable imaging device that is faster, more accurate and produces a higher resolution image than current technology. Using MediPix3, Endobot creates a 3D colour X-ray image of the body, allowing doctors to distinguish different tissues effectively. By 2030, further development of Medipix3 estimates that scan duration will be 3-4 seconds. Endobot also uses an infrared technology called Hyger to assist with navigation and calibration, helping to boost the accuracy of the scan by following any micro-movements made by the patient.
Endbot will shorten the endometriosis diagnostic journey through fast and accurate imaging that is non-invasive. It can also be mounted on a track, providing stability in environments like Wellness Wheels.
Implementation
The implementation roadmap created for EndoAware spanned 7 years from 2023 to the approval of a pilot program in 2030. In that time there is a huge process of stakeholder engagement, fundraising, technology development, and trialing EndoBot in hospital settings. Beyond 2030, we envisioned the impact Wellness Wheels and EndoBot could have on other healthcare areas.
Research
Research included secondary research on women’s health, endometriosis, the diagnostic journey, the Australian healthcare system, and the technologies available for the project, as well as interviews and surveys to gain insights from medical professionals and women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis. These insights heavily influenced the direction of the project.
Funding
Estimated funding includes the manufacture of EndoBot and the fit-out of Wellness Wheels for a 20-week pilot program. The pilot program would span 10 regional locations around Australia, staffed by 6 medical practitioners on a fly-in-fly-out roster, as well as the specialists needed to analyse scans. This came in at $4.8m AU.
