Elevating Patient Care: The Impact of Design on a Radiosurgery System

Cancer care — Elekta Esprit, a Gamma Knife® stereotactic radiosurgery system, revolutionises cancer care. It is used for curing targets in the brain, such as tumours, vascular malformations, or functional disorders, with high precision. No wonder it has been awarded.

On the occasion of the Red Dot Award Ceremony in June 2023, together with members of his team, Peter von Zweigbergk travelled to Germany to accept an award in the “Product Design” category for the Radiosurgery System Elekta Esprit, a Gamma Knife® stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) system used in cancer care. Its design stands out for its sleek, minimalist aesthetic that shifts focus from the machine to the user. The system integrates sophisticated technology with a user-friendly interface, making complex treatments more accessible and efficient. By prioritising ease of use and patient comfort, Elekta Esprit significantly improves the treatment experience. “It’s great to receive international recognition and an award for all the work put into the project! Especially when it comes to the Red Dot Design Award, as it’s a very renowned and esteemed prize in the industry.”

Working as a designer at a Neuro Department

— Peter works as a Senior Industrial Designer on an assignment in Elekta’s neuro department, focusing on delivering design solutions in all phases of the product development process. He believes in facilitating collaboration by establishing clear and comprehensive objectives for both aesthetics and functionality. It is essential to consider what values we aim to convey through the product and how we want customers and patients to perceive it. Deliberating on these aspects enhances the team’s decision-making process. This approach fosters unwavering cooperation, inspiring all stakeholders to exert additional effort in crafting something more cohesive and polished.

Individuals across various levels must be fully engaged to be successful in achieving synergy and innovation, and in establishing cohesive product development and optimisation across all stages, from conception to market release. This includes a product management and marketing team, responsible for strategy and sales alignment; an engineering team, ensuring high-end solution delivery; NPI managers, maintaining supplier communication; release engineers, overseeing project realisation, and a service team, providing essential feedback.

The challenge and the outcome

— The challenge and complexity of MedTech products lies within striking a delicate balance between finding the right scope while simultaneously pushing for a product that makes a significant impact. On the one hand, there’s a need to ensure that the product remains manageable in terms of size, complexity, and resources required for development. On the other hand, there’s a relentless drive to innovate and create solutions that truly transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes.

Achieving this balance requires careful navigation through regulatory requirements, technological advancements, supplier need times, and user needs.

“The most fulfilling reward in MedTech product development is witnessing the final product in action, actively transforming the lives of patients,” concludes Peter. “It’s an indescribable feeling to see something you’ve contributed to make a tangible difference in someone’s health and well-being.”