Page 383 - Flexible Robotics in Medicine

376 Chapter 16

16.4 Benchmarking with needs-metrics matrix

Benchmarking is essential, as it assesses existing devices for comparison and device analysis.
Thus the advantages and disadvantages of each device can be established and compared with
that of P.A.T.S. The user needs are to allow a home-based, self-administered device for the
surveillance of the nasopharynx region to monitor recurrence or detection of NPC. The
current method of detecting NPC requires a clinician to operate an endoscope on the patients
at the clinic. The standard devices include the ENTity LED NasoView nasopharyngoscope
and the rigid sinuscope by Optim LLC, ENF-V2 video rhinolaryngoscope by Olympus, and
the rigid endoscope by JEDMED. The ENTity LED NasoView and ENF-V2
rhinolaryngoscope are flexible endoscopes that have the angle of articulation of about 130
degrees up/down and a slim shaft diameter of 3.4 3.6 mm. The rigid endoscope by Optim
and JEDMED are rigid tubes with zero degrees of articulation and fixed viewing angle.
However, there are several different tubes available with different viewing angles ranging
from 0 to 70 degrees. Although the mentioned devices serve the purpose of surveillance of
the nasopharynx region, they require extensive setup and a trained clinician to operate.

16.4.1 Needs table

Need no. Device part User need Importance
1 Insertion tube of P.A.T.S Stability of tube 1
2 Camera Functionality (clear view) 1
3 P.A.T.S Minimal discomfort 2
4 Control system/P.A.T.S User-friendliness 2
5 P.A.T.S Self-administrable 2
6 P.A.T.S Wear/crack resistance 1
7 P.A.T.S Sterile 1
8 P.A.T.S/camera Wide viewing angle 2

16.4.2 Metrics table

Metric Need Metric Importance Unit
no. no.
1 8 Camera tilting angle 2 Degrees
2 4, 5 User-friendliness 2 Number of buttons and steps to
operate
3 2 Image clarity 1 Yes/No
4 1, 6 Yield strength 1 MPa
5 1, 3 Small shaft diameter 1 mm
6 3, 6 Stress strain curve of material 1 Pascal/ratio
used
7 7 Sterility 1 SAL