Symphony is a minimally invasive thrombectomy device that removes hazardous clots in patients’ veins via a catheter-based procedure. This handheld tool includes several innovative features including a rotational function to orient the catheter tip to the clot, an aspiration valve, a hemostatic valve, a multifunction port for injecting medicine or contrast or measuring blood pressure, and a connection to a high-power vacuum source. The clot can also be grasped with an accessory with a screw-shaped tip and then withdrawn down through the catheter via vacuum where it is then trapped in a clear filter container, allowing the clot to be seen and analyzed by the physician. Symphony is designed to make a thrombectomy procedure faster and less invasive.

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Whipsaw helped Imperative Care develop this new procedural model and the device's ergonomics, industrial design, fluidics, and mechanical engineering solution to ensure manufacturability and fail-proof operation. Symphony recently received FDA clearance and is currently in use.

Understanding the challenge through procedure co-creation

Imperative Care aims to make blood clot removal easier, less invasive, more effective, and more reliable. By closely collaborating with physicians and utilizing a rapid iteration approach, we gained profound insights into the operation's intricacies. Continuously refining our designs based on real-time feedback, we ensured that our solutions align with user expectations while adhering to core design principles and manufacturing constraints. Throughout our design process, we oscillated between industrial design and procedure design adjustments, affecting the system in subtle yet transformative ways.

Densely Packed Innovation

The Symphony system is densely packed with careful plumbing of blood and vacuum lines, catheter safety precautions, sophisticated valves, and critical interaction points - and it all fits in the palm of your hand. Symphony captures blood clots in a clear removable container, allowing physicians to see if and when they've captured a clot. After a procedure, physicians can remove and inspect the clot to inform ongoing treatment. These interaction points directly informed our design and engineering refinements to create a solution that is intuitive and easy to use.