Case Study: Orlando Health

• Partnered with RICOH 3D for Healthcare to create a perfect VainSim prototype

• Worked with Ricoh to create packaging, instructions and shipping of devices

• Solved the hemophilia education treatment gap among patients

• Spearheaded a patient survey with intent to commercialize VainSim

With the Ricoh team on board, they transitioned the project for manufacturing VainSim at scale to the Ricoh 3D for Healthcare team, utilizing Stratasys 3D printers with Digital Anatomy Printing (DAP) capabilities at the Ricoh facility. The Ricoh and Orlando Health teams collaboratively redesigned and perfected the skin sleeves, making about 200 prototypes before achieving the right feel of the skin, which took several months to develop. VainSim was revitalized, bringing a safe way to teach patients how to infuse their medication when they have a bleeding disorder.

“Ricoh has experience with 3D-printed medical devices, task trainers, quality management systems, and the manufacturing expertise to help bring this to market with us. We credit Ricoh with helping us scale the first-of-its-kind 3D-printed trainer and enabling us to ensure VainSim is available to help patients and healthcare workers around the world,” explained Anthony Mango, Manager of Product Development & Commercialization with Orlando Health. “Ricoh helped with many of the design elements and where we are today.”

Within the first weeks, VainSim (patent pending) received an overwhelmingly positive response from patients testing the product, demonstrating its great need and usefulness for those with bleeding disorders. DeGroot and Mango began traveling globally to conferences to build awareness for VainSim and self-infusion education. “We’ve had so many medical professionals approach us with a sense of relief that help was on the way for their communities and patients. It felt very rewarding to offer our device to professionals in developing countries where this could impact so many children,” DeGroot noted.

As Orlando Health moves toward a widespread release of VainSim, they began a pilot study to determine if patient and caregiver confidence in self-infusion is affected by practicing with VainSim and to determine the tool’s usability by utilizing the System Usability Scale (SUS). Thirty-six patients with bleeding disorders and their caregivers were enrolled in the study, with patient ages ranging from six to their mid-twenties.

“We wanted to measure confidence and system usability. The VainSim study was part of a self-infusion education workshop that seeks to determine if participant confidence in infusion is raised by using VainSim and attending the workshop. Study results show a 51.07% increase in confidence in infusion skills among participants with previous experience after using VainSim, and 80% of participants who had never infused before reported feeling “Confident” or “Very Confident” after practicing with VainSim,” said Dr. Shveta Gupta, M.D., Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at Orlando Health.

“Since beginning our study, patients and their families have expressed gratitude and immense appreciation. There was a large gap in teaching kids how to take care of themselves on a global scale. This innovation is designed to help and improve patient’s health safely and confidently,” stated Mango. “The survey results are great news as we look to take the next steps and release the solution to the world.” Kids are trained on the tool for about two hours to become adept and confident in their abilities, removing the danger of piercing themselves.