The treatment

For the treatment, the doctor or therapist uses the active ingredient polidocanol, which has a sclerosing effect that is further potentiated by foaming. In the "Clinicas Cabreras", about 1000 outpatient treatments of this kind have been successfully performed annually for 30 years now. Instead of simply using the pharmaceutical pure, it is foamed. Due to the physically increased surface area, it displaces the blood and covers the walls of the vein. Perfect foam consistency is important for optimal treatment.

Perfect foam - at the touch of a button?

Until now, the production of the pharmaceutical foam has been anything but smart. Users often use two injection syringes between which the sclerosant is manually injected back and forth through a filter - a laborious and inexact process that is also controversial because atmospheric air is often introduced into the foam. This can lead to dangerous embolisms. Bubble size and foam disintegration time are difficult to control with this method, and it requires experienced operators.

A few years ago, the son of the inventor of the same name, Dr. Juan Cabrera, therefore developed the prototype for a device that would automate the production of the foam and optimize control over the foam quality. The beginning was made, but the medical team lacked expertise in design and product development. That's why Juan Cabrera brought WILDDESIGN on board in 2019. Even though the location of his clinics is mainly in Spain and Central America, he definitely wanted design and engineering from Germany for this task.

High-tech - close to the patient!

Until now, the manual production of the Microfoam took place in a room adjacent to the treatment room and, with interruptions due to the back and forth, was an imposition for patients and practitioners. The wish: the new device should be used as close to the patient as possible. On the one hand, the innovative product design has the task of providing the right foam "at the push of a button". On the other hand, the modern design and operation via touch display should emphasize state-of-the-art technology.

In addition to polidocanol, the right Microfoam also requires a targeted supply of oxygen (_O2) and carbon dioxide (_CO2) as well as sterile water. In addition to the actual technology, the housing contains two connected gas cylinders. Unattractive screw connections or interfaces have been avoided in order to cut a fine figure from all angles, even when installed in the middle of the room. Patients experience a luxury application, so the CABRERA M-Foamer should also fit into this context.

The device represents Dr. Cabrera and his method at the same time, so a high recognition value is a priority. In an original design, the device consisted of two parts. However, the initially compact tabletop unit has become a columnar unit by seamlessly connecting it to the stand, which also accommodates two gas cylinders and the sterile water bag. For the development of hardware and software and the subsequent assembly and device manufacturing, BYTEC Medical Technology from the WILDDESIGN network. The microfoam is produced in a cassette designed by BYTEC with the composition desired by the physician. Unusable foam residues and rinsing fluids are also collected in this disposable and disposed of after treatment.

Four castors make the CABRERA M-Foamer mobile and it can therefore be used in different treatment rooms.

High-tech instead of manual labor

Operation is via a large touch screen at the top of the device body, where the user can control the process. The angle of the screen can be adjusted so that the device can be used while standing or sitting. The stable monitor arm is also suitable as a handle for moving the device.

Just like the overall appearance, the interface had to be modern and intuitive to use. For this purpose, WILDDESIGN developed a graphical user interface, which was implemented together with its partner BYTEC. The final GUI guides the user simply and with few settings through the production of the microfoam. After selecting a profile, the GUI guides the user through the insertion of the cassette, the removal of the foam and the cleaning process. Along the user workflow, WILDDESIGN contributed images for the instructions. In the form of so-called wireframes, i.e. simplified screen interfaces, these were first simulated before the final user interface was created.

A holistic development with a lot of heart and soul

During the collaboration, it became clear time and again how much passion Dr. Juan Cabrera puts into this procedure, so every interim presentation was a small highlight for both sides. The fact that the Cabrera M-Foamer is now also associated with an iconic system naturally contributes to the branding of the method. To support the start-up in this respect too, we worked with our marketing consultant to create the initial positioning, including corporate design, website and promotional video, and also recommended a management consultant from our Healthcare Shapers network to develop the go-to-market strategy.

The website with video - www.m-foamer.com - simply worth seeing!

The system is now about to be launched on the market and will be presented at Arab Health in Dubai in January 2023. Take a look at the CABRERA M-Foamer in action!