TDICT has developed a system for promoting safer medical devices by directly observing the use of products in the healthcare environment and by involving end-users and frontline healthcare personnel of medical and dental technology in these systematic evaluations.

Fundamental to TDICT’s work is the notion that end-users of medical devices should be involved in all stages of product development, selection, and implementation.

Our process includes:

• Reviewing literature on needlestick, sharps injuries, and blood and body fluid exposures
• Identifying current and newly available safer medical devices
• Reviewing exposure incident data, including EPINet®
• Clinical observations by product designers, occupational health practitioners, infection preventionists, and industrial hygienists
• Training healthcare personnel in principles of product design and evaluation
• Conducting focus group studies with select groups of healthcare personnel and device designers/engineers
• In depth product evaluation of commercially available safer medical devices and prototypes in development
• Structural and failure analysis of safer products by product designers, occupational health practitioners, infection preventionists, and industrial hygienists