A crowdfunding campaign for a comfortable alternative to the duckbill speculum raised €223,210 from 8,421 donors. Universiteitsfonds Delft announced the news in a progress report. Researchers are now finishing the design before starting tests with patients and doctors. They are also planning how to introduce the device into healthcare systems across Europe, Kenya, and South Africa.
Simple design and user testing
Many women feel anxious or experience pain during routine gynecological exams. Researcher Tamara Hoveling and designer Ariadna Izcara Gual created Lilium as a gentler alternative. The device opens three soft petals using a central tube, so either the patient or the doctor can insert it comfortably. Recent updates improved cervical visibility for doctors and made the tool easier to use. The team also checked all medical device safety rules, which brings the product one step closer to actual use in clinics.
Learn more about the project design in this TU Delft Lilium Speculum Video. This short video illustrates the three-petal mechanism and explains how the designers created a gentler experience for women’s healthcare.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
