ELPEN Pharmaceutical is a leading Greek pharmaceutical company specialising in branded generics. Elpenhaler® is ELPEN’s proprietary dry powder inhaler, developed to administer a range of medications for the treatment of asthma and COPD.
Elpen wanted to develop the next-generation Elpenhaler with an improved ‘look and feel’ aligned with their brand, enhancing usability without changing drug delivery performance. The project started by meeting ELPEN’s commercial, regulatory and technical stakeholders to define the scope, objectives and requirements, and to discuss user needs.
To identify usability enhancements we used a human factors method called PCA - Perception, Cognition, Action. We analysed the device’s use steps to gain a deeper insight into the root cause of possible use-related errors, and identified the high-impact areas for enhancement.
During a workshop with Elpen we analysed the Elpenhaler’s design from numerous perspectives. Myriad factors affect the perceived value of an inhaler - from the way it looks to the way it feels, or how it fits within a patient’s lifestyle. We concluded that the Elpenhaler’s look did not convey the company’s brand essence - improving patients’ lives through innovative ideas - and agreed a series of brand attributes to inform the look and brand experience of the next-generation device.
After developing the usability improvements and defining the look and brand experience, the team explored a range of concepts through sketching, 2D renderings and handling models. Concepts with different levels of change - mild to wild - were presented to Elpen, patients and health professionals for assessment, from which a single concept was selected.
The selected concept offered a range of enhancements viable for Elpen’s production requirements: a single pin for all pivoting components and a simplified user interface that is more intuitive and can be tuned to give a high-quality feel. The direction for the look was modern but friendly - angular split lines cut into a pebble shape that offers improved portability because of its soft form.
Designers and engineers collaborated closely during the detail design phase to balance design and functional trade-offs. Much of the refinement focussed on the cap and blister-compartment opening functions - finding the balance between ease of use and robustness against opening when dropped, while considering manufacturability. The engineering process included finite element analysis, functional tolerance analysis and risk assessments including product FMEA.
We have already received positive feedback about the upgraded design of Elpenhaler® and we expect it to boost our growth aspirations for the years to come.
Konstantinos Pentafragkas, Managing Director, ELPEN Pharmaceutical Co. Inc.
Work undertaken whilst an employee of Cambridge Consultants.
