Presentation
Lean (UX) in to It
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionTopic and application
A lean UX approach was used to create a graphics only instructional aid, called the AVEIR Patient Transmitter (APT) Tip Card, which was designed to guide patients through remote cardiac monitoring sessions. This tip card is part of the AVEIR Remote Care System, which enables patients with implanted leadless pacemakers to transmit diagnostic and ECG data from home. The tip card condenses essential steps from the Instructions for Use and Quick Reference Guide into a simplified visual format, aiming to support patients, particularly elderly lay users, with low digital literacy.
Background
Remote cardiac monitoring is increasingly vital for reducing clinic visits and improving patient outcomes. However, usability challenges can arise when patients are expected to operate medical devices independently. The APT Tip Card was developed to address this gap by offering a visual guide to support patients during remote sessions. Given the critical nature of tasks such as dampening skin for ECG collection and maintaining contact with electrodes, the tip card’s clarity and effectiveness were essential to ensure safe and successful use.
The design challenge
Designing the AVEIR Patient Transmitter (APT) Tip Card presented a unique set of challenges that required a highly adaptive and user-centered approach. The primary goal was to create a graphics only instructional aid that could effectively guide elderly patients through a multi-step medical procedure involving a digital device. This constraint was driven by the need to support users with low visual acuity, limited digital experience, and potential cognitive decline, while also ensuring compliance with regulatory expectations for clarity and safety.
One of the most significant design challenges was overcoming users’ existing mental models, particularly the deeply ingrained belief that water and electronics should never mix. A critical step in the APT workflow requires users to dampen their hands and thigh to ensure proper conductivity for ECG signal acquisition. However, many participants initially interpreted the tip card images as instructions to wash or clean their skin, or even to avoid moisture altogether, due to their prior experiences with electronic devices. This misinterpretation led to repeated use errors and close calls in early design iterations.
Additionally, the target user population (elderly patients aged 70 and above) was often presented with age-related impairments such as reduced vision, hearing, and dexterity. These factors compounded the difficulty of interpreting abstract or ambiguous visuals, especially when no accompanying text was available to clarify intent. The design team had to carefully balance simplicity, clarity, and cognitive load, ensuring that each image conveyed a single, unambiguous action.
Given these constraints, the Lean UX methodology was the ideal framework for this project. Lean UX emphasizes rapid iteration, real-time feedback, and cross-functional collaboration, all of which were essential in refining the tip card design. By testing multiple design iterations with real users and implementing changes between sessions, the team was able to quickly identify usability issues, probe root causes, and validate improvements in a continuous loop. This approach allowed the team to remain agile and responsive to user needs, rather than being locked into a rigid development cycle.
A lean UX approach was used to create a graphics only instructional aid, called the AVEIR Patient Transmitter (APT) Tip Card, which was designed to guide patients through remote cardiac monitoring sessions. This tip card is part of the AVEIR Remote Care System, which enables patients with implanted leadless pacemakers to transmit diagnostic and ECG data from home. The tip card condenses essential steps from the Instructions for Use and Quick Reference Guide into a simplified visual format, aiming to support patients, particularly elderly lay users, with low digital literacy.
Background
Remote cardiac monitoring is increasingly vital for reducing clinic visits and improving patient outcomes. However, usability challenges can arise when patients are expected to operate medical devices independently. The APT Tip Card was developed to address this gap by offering a visual guide to support patients during remote sessions. Given the critical nature of tasks such as dampening skin for ECG collection and maintaining contact with electrodes, the tip card’s clarity and effectiveness were essential to ensure safe and successful use.
The design challenge
Designing the AVEIR Patient Transmitter (APT) Tip Card presented a unique set of challenges that required a highly adaptive and user-centered approach. The primary goal was to create a graphics only instructional aid that could effectively guide elderly patients through a multi-step medical procedure involving a digital device. This constraint was driven by the need to support users with low visual acuity, limited digital experience, and potential cognitive decline, while also ensuring compliance with regulatory expectations for clarity and safety.
One of the most significant design challenges was overcoming users’ existing mental models, particularly the deeply ingrained belief that water and electronics should never mix. A critical step in the APT workflow requires users to dampen their hands and thigh to ensure proper conductivity for ECG signal acquisition. However, many participants initially interpreted the tip card images as instructions to wash or clean their skin, or even to avoid moisture altogether, due to their prior experiences with electronic devices. This misinterpretation led to repeated use errors and close calls in early design iterations.
Additionally, the target user population (elderly patients aged 70 and above) was often presented with age-related impairments such as reduced vision, hearing, and dexterity. These factors compounded the difficulty of interpreting abstract or ambiguous visuals, especially when no accompanying text was available to clarify intent. The design team had to carefully balance simplicity, clarity, and cognitive load, ensuring that each image conveyed a single, unambiguous action.
Given these constraints, the Lean UX methodology was the ideal framework for this project. Lean UX emphasizes rapid iteration, real-time feedback, and cross-functional collaboration, all of which were essential in refining the tip card design. By testing multiple design iterations with real users and implementing changes between sessions, the team was able to quickly identify usability issues, probe root causes, and validate improvements in a continuous loop. This approach allowed the team to remain agile and responsive to user needs, rather than being locked into a rigid development cycle.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 234:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationRhinelander Gallery
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices