The BiliLumen Phototherapy Lamp

With a keen interest in medical technologies, particularly neonatal medtech, this project began with a deep dive into hospitals through interviews with paediatric doctors and nurses. This phase of discussions and academic research uncovered a variety of problems needing solutions. For an industrial design-based project, the lack of innovation and technology in jaundice care provided the most room for a truly impactful solution.

Given the clinically proven methods for blue-light treatment, great emphasis was placed on creating a manufacturable prototype that could theoretically provide jaundice treatment. Additionally, the requirements outlined by UNICEF for jaundice therapy set clear goals for the project. These guidelines helped define the project’s objectives.

Classic design methods such as journey mapping, interviews, and ethnography were implemented to explore the potential forms the final product could take. This knowledge was then translated into the design and engineering of the product. 3D printing was used extensively, along with rapid electronic prototyping platforms like Arduino. A cyclical process of designing, prototyping, and consulting with medical professionals helped to guide and improve the product.

Every iteration of the design aimed to answer specific questions, such as the optimal implementation of electronics or the ideal dimensions for ergonomics. These iterations were presented to design and medical professionals weekly to gain insights and refine the design. This process was repeated until the final prototype met the criteria and guidelines defined at the start of the project.

The BiliLumen’s design not only improves existing technologies but fundamentally shifts how jaundice treatment is delivered to newborns. While neonatal jaundice itself is not dangerous, untreated cases can lead to severe lifelong complications. Current treatment options, ranging from simply holding the baby in the sun, to NICU-based blue-light therapy, often add stress to parents during an already anxious time.

The BiliLumen’s portability allows treatment to take place in the mother’s room, promoting bonding in the crucial early days of life. Its double-sided LED arrays provide full light coverage, ensuring faster treatment. The fixed arm design means no additional setup is required and depending on the severity of jaundice, doctors and nurses can use the control panel to switch between two brightness settings pre-calibrated to clinically approved levels. All this reassures parents that their child will receive proper care every time. Additionally, the soft design language and pastel colours of the BiliLumen convey a sense of calmness to parents, departing from the traditionally sterile look of hospital equipment; yet the product is still made from medical grade ABS, and the removable bassinet provides easy sanitisation between uses. In addition, the BiliLumen integrates a timer helping parents to regulate feeding times around the treatment cycles.

The BiliLumen shifts the model of care provided to babies, and by extension parents, by taking into consideration the entire user journey, both before and after the treatment itself. The BiliLumen shows that more empathetic and thoughtful patient care does not need to be at the expense of fast, quality treatment. The BiliLumen shows the power of a design-led project in delivering better care for all.

From a purely technical standpoint, the BiliLumen is uniquely positioned in the market with its combination of features. Given the prevalence of jaundice in newborns, UNICEF outlined the technical requirements for jaundice therapy devices, based on the recommendations of over 180 medical professionals worldwide. These requirements include minimum area coverage for blue light, running times, LED efficiency, brightness, and electronic standards. Current market products fail to meet all these requirements. However, the BiliLumen fills this gap by meeting and exceeding these standards, particularly in LED coverage, running times, brightness settings, and its integrated timer.

From a user-centred perspective, BiliLumen’s approach to jaundice therapy makes double-sided phototherapy more accessible through its compact design and portability. This core feature benefits all main stakeholders: the baby, parents, and medical staff.

For the baby, it means faster treatment—45% faster within the first 24 hours, based on clinical testing. For parents, portability allows the baby to stay by the mother’s side during treatment, promoting bonding in the early days of life. For medical staff, the fixed arm design and pre-calibration ensure an easier and quicker setup process, with a guarantee that the LED brightness is correct every time.

The medical benefits of the BiliLumen are already clear. However, the impacts of this project go beyond simply addressing neonatal jaundice. Much of this project was completed to demonstrate the advantages of a design-led medical initiative. The design process behind the BiliLumen underscores the importance of investing in design. By prioritising user experience, the device ensures a high level of functionality, accessibility, and ease of use for parents and medical staff.

Manufacturing considerations were integral to the design process from start to finish. Numerous iterations of various parts were prototyped to optimise strength, longevity, and material usage. This focus extended to the lifetime of the electronics. The device was designed so that if a specific part breaks, repairing the product was possible without having to discard everything. For example, the body, arm, and top LED array are detachable by the user which also aids in shipping, as the parts can be shipped separately in a more compact package.

Often, the clinical environment of hospitals leads to the creation of stale and uninspired products. During a time when doctors and nurses are under increasing pressure, often at the expense of patient care, the BiliLumen demonstrates that thoughtfully designed MedTech can be more than just a tool for treatment. Conversations with numerous doctors and nurses made it abundantly clear that they want nothing more than to provide the highest quality of care. They truly care about their patients and want the best for them. It is our duty as makers and thinkers to provide them with tools that enable them to focus on their core roles—patient care. As Victorian’s we are empathetic and caring - this design hopefully is a representation of that.