RespiFree
Designing a health management system
for nighttime breathing difficulty
Product Design ・ System Design・ App Design
Overview
Designing for Better Sleep
RespiFree is a health management system that includes an implantable device designed to change the way sleep apnea is treated. Nearly 30% of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and many stop their treatment because it’s uncomfortable. RespiFree aims to make treatment more comfortable and free patients from the bulky and bothersome traditional methods.
Designing from Holistic Approach
This project was part of my coursework at California College of the Arts, Interaction design program. Instead of just designing an app, we rethought the whole healthcare experience, creating a system that combines comfort with advanced monitoring technologies. This project shows my commitment to solving real health problems by making systems that are not only effective but also easier for people to use. It highlights how design and technology can work together to improve health care.
Role
System design
UX research
UX/UI design
Timeline
2024.04
4 weeks
Mentor
Jorge Arango
Tool
Figma
Photoshop
Context
A good sleep is a basic human right
Sleeping is essential for everyone, and it should be considered a basic human right. However, many people struggle with sleep disorders.
According to the American Medical Association, it is believed that more than 30 million people have sleep apnea in the US. This disorder not only affects the patients but also disturbs the sleep of those around them due to the symptoms associated with it. Addressing sleep apnea and ensuring good sleep for all is a significant challenge that needs attention.
In United States,
sleep apnea is as common as diabetes and more common than asthma.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing stops or becomes shallow during sleep due to airway blockage, typically when throat muscles relax and soft tissue collapses. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can lead to various health problems.
Current Therapy: CPAP
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. Patients wear a mask over the nose and/or mouth while sleeping. The mask is connected to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air into the nostrils.
Problem Space
The discomfort caused by current CPAP theraphy often leads to the discontinuation of treatment
Current therapies fail to provide comprehensive health data indicators for tracking overall bodily conditions
Many patients often fail to recognize the link between sleep symptoms and some other severe disorder
Solution
RespiFree
A comprehensive solution for better sleep
Design Process
Secondary Reseach
Sleep Apnea: A Silent Killer
Sleep apnea is a silent killer due to its severe health implications. It can lead to chronic conditions like hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Over 80% of patients are unaware that they have sleep apnea because they exhibit no daytime symptoms, have no awareness of the condition at night.
High Discontent with CPAP
CPAP therapy, the gold standard for treating sleep apnea, is widely disliked by patients. Discomfort, inconvenience, and the intrusive nature of the device contribute to this dissatisfaction.
Around 50% of patients report discomfort with wearing the CPAP mask, including issues like nasal congestion and dry mouth​.
Problem Area
After initial desk research, I discovered that the main challenge of sleep apnea treatment is the difficult experience of undergoing CPAP therapy.
The feedback loop represents how CPAP treatment currently interacts with patients. It provides a holistic view of the system and sheds light on the problems identified through my research.
Diagram: Feedback Loops of CPAP treatment
Key Challeneges
For sleep apnea patients
The CPAP mask can feel instructive and uncomfortable. This is major problem that lead to the discontinuation of treatment.
CPAP machines often don't track crucial health indicators, providing incomplete assessment of a patient's health.
Many patients often fail to recognize the link between sleep apnea and other severe disorder.
Approach
Integrating ecosystem design to effectively address the complexities of healthcare challenges.
Integrating new health technologies that provide a non-instructive solution to enhance patient adherence.
​​How might we
create a new treatment model that improves comfort and offers a more comprehensive approach to managing health?
Solution Brainstorming
After finalizing my focus area, I began brainstorming possible solutions. I explored not only new treatment methods but also factors that could affect the treatment experience, such as the sleep environment and the influence of people nearby.
How about designing a smaller, even invisible, machine?
How about transforming the sleep environment?
How about making the experience less stressful?
Final Solution
RespiFree
RespiFree Product Ecology
System Map
Implantable Device
For Seamless Experience
The implant includes biosensors that monitor critical variables such as Apnea-Hypopnea Index, heart rate and oxygen saturation.
A small, smart implant placed under the skin near the neck monitors using gentle electrical stimulation to adjust airway muscle tone in real-time, keeping the airway open and preventing apnea episodes without external apparatus.
Health Management Mobile Application
Integration with a mobile app allows patients to review their sleep and health data in real-time. User also can receive feedback, and access educational modules on sleep apnea management.
Key Takeaways
Focus Beyond the Screen, Work on Systems
Before diving into the screen design, it's essential to understand the underlying components and how they interact within the system. Systems are the foundation of everything we do. You work within systems and you work on systems, making it crucial to grasp their inner workings first.
Tackle Complexity with Systems Thinking
Systems thinking is a vital skill that enables designers to think broadly and gain a holistic view of how users, objects, and the environment interact. This approach has helped me develop the ability to explore and simplify complex concepts and to approach design from a systems perspective.
Drawn into system thinking world
Support and feedback
from peers and instructor
Final Class Presentation 04.2024
