This process has been a priority for many people for multiple years, so to see the final product and anticipate how it can help patients and providers alike is very rewarding. It took the collaborative efforts of a cross-functional team to develop i-STAT Alinity. This process took roughly six years, and we feel confident we got it right.īates: A significant R&D project like this touches every aspect of our organization. When we landed on a final prototype that seemed to work for the clinicians, our Abbott researchers conducted a summary study that put the device to the test, demonstrating all the ways it could be used. We took this information and developed many designs, which were narrowed down to several prototypes and then tested by our customers to determine which suited their needs best. We spent countless hours interviewing our customers, including doctors, nurses, point-of-care coordinators, respiratory therapists - a wide variety of healthcare providers - about their pain points and needs to gain insight into where we could improve diagnostics.įrom there, we observed providers who used our current i-STAT system in operating rooms, emergency departments, intensive care units and other locations to understand how they use the device. Soman: Our first step was to understand exactly what clinicians needed in a with-patient testing device. What went into the R&D process for this solution? How do you prepare for diagnostic tests or innovations that don't exist yet - how do you develop a device that won't become outdated when new technologies arise? On top of that, we needed to be mindful not to lose sight of the features and capabilities people rely on with the current i-STAT device. We needed to anticipate the needs of tomorrow, which was a real challenge. That meant creating a device that was durable, reliable and able to adapt to future needs. What was one of the biggest challenges the R&D team faced?īates: One of our main goals was to design a device that would withstand the test of time. Our goal is to help healthcare providers diagnose, treat and send patients on their way in the quickest and most efficient way possible. Knowing how that feels, we want patients to be treated faster and more accurately so they can return home and continue living their best and healthiest lives. At some point or another, we or a family member or loved one has been in the hospital. Narendra Soman: When our team thinks about our customers, we often imagine ourselves or our families. That's how we began developing i-STAT Alinity. Our team knew there was more we could do to make often scary healthcare moments - from a potential heart attack to the need for dialysis - a little better. We also want to do all we can to help the healthcare providers who treat these people. It's about helping families and those who arrive at a hospital needing rapid treatment decisions. However, we knew we could do more to push the boundaries and develop an even better with-patient device that could make a difference in the healthcare industry.įor me and many people on our R&D team, the inspiration for our work is the patient. Matt Bates: At Abbott, we're very proud of our existing i-STAT device and the expertise we have in the point-of-care (testing that takes place with-patient) industry. What prompted or inspired your R&D team to develop this device? Here's their story, as told by Matt Bates, Ph.D., divisional vice president, R&D and Narendra Soman, Ph.D., director, R&D for Abbott's Point of Care Diagnostics business. To create it, innovators from Abbott's research and development (R&D) team spent six years designing prototype after prototype until they found a breakthrough solution that would stand the test of time. As a handheld, portable blood testing device available by prescription, it can provide results within minutes virtually anywhere, from hospitals and nursing homes to the sidelines of sporting events. Fast results make all the difference, and waiting days for a lab report just won't do, especially when you need to know now.Įnter the i-STAT Alinity system. In those times of need, every minute matters. From the couple eagerly awaiting the results of a pregnancy blood test to a worried cancer patient hoping for more answers, diagnostic blood tests give vital insight into what's happening underneath the skin. Every day, countless blood samples are tested all around the world for one purpose: to help diagnose and treat medical conditions.
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