Deep user research in unfamiliar environments creates medical device innovations that earn recognition.
Participating in long-running open-heart surgeries sounds like an extreme commitment for a product designer. Yet designer Eren Donertas and the Aselsan team did exactly that, spending two years from July 2020 to July 2022 observing perfusionists in action. The Aselsan HLM heart lung machine emerged from this immersion, a modular device that allows custom configurations for each unique surgery. Perfusionists can detach pump units and position them wherever specific procedures require, with each unit featuring its own touch screen and controls. The research methodology included five expert interviews, a 27-person survey, twelve in-depth interviews, and eight in-situ observations. The resulting design earned a Golden A' Design Award in Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design, validating what becomes possible when organizations commit to understanding users in environments most designers never experience firsthand.
The modular architecture of the Aselsan HLM reflects a profound insight about cardiac surgery: no two procedures are identical, and equipment should respect and accommodate professional expertise. Perfusionists create configurations tailored to each patient, bringing vital information and controls into their immediate reach zone. The compact dimensions of 950 by 410 by 1200 millimeters allow the device to position closer to patient beds while leaving space for surgical teams to move freely. For organizations considering entry into specialized healthcare markets, the Aselsan case demonstrates how deep user research creates both design excellence and market credibility. The team's willingness to enter operating theaters and learn perfusionist terminology transformed engineering capability into a product serving healthcare professionals during critical procedures.
When companies invest in understanding users at depth, design outcomes carry inherent credibility that marketing alone cannot manufacture. The Aselsan HLM stands as evidence that breakthrough medical equipment emerges from breakthrough research methodology. What specialized environments might your organization need to enter and deeply understand before claiming to serve the professionals who work there?
