Lubricant applicator - innovative new product and metod for homecare and hospitals

Purpose and goal

Objectives and goal was to create a Gelapplikator that reduce discomfort for the patient and simplifies the process for change of indwelling urinary catheter, is easy to use while saving time and money for health care, and that can be commercialized after the project. The Gelapplikator is now a completely tested and validated design according to requirements. A functional design has been developed: easy to use, saves time and money, is documented, and a clinical trial with significantly better results compared to standard treatment, has been performed.

Expected results and effects

Gel applicator allows for significantly faster and easier replacement of indwelling urinary catheters. There is now a basis for product approval and a clear consistent economic plan for commercialization. Expected effects: -CE-marked and released product is the next step -Within a few years, we expect that the Gel applikator is a standard accessory that comes with urine catheter-kit -Standard procedure changed to include the use of the Gel applikator when replacing the indwelling urinary catheter.

Planned approach and implementation

The Gel applicator project was carried out as a collaboration between the academic, health care and business. Through an agile design process with itererative tests of 3D printed prototypes a final version was developed. This went through an approval process within the healthcare system. A clinical trial at the home care unit of the Urology department was performed using the Gel applicator, with very good results. Conclusion: it always takes longer to conduct a clinical trial. In our case, patient recruitment time increased considerably because only non-senile patients were allowed.