Products
Redesigning a breast lesion excision probe
Perspective on the real problem
A medical device company had a successful breast lesion excision tool suite but faced costly supply-chain risk due to a complex, three-part probe tip. The goal was to reduce probe tip costs and risks without compromising clinical performance or the physician or patient experience.
Clarity by working through options
A new supplier was sourced to optimise manufacturing while meeting regulatory requirements. Since the probe tip’s shape and function could not change, simplification came from manufacturing methods. Rapid, iterative process development and testing validated tolerances, reliability, quantity, and unit cost targets with only modest investment in tooling.
Confidence to decide and act
An evidence-led decision path reduced uncertainty before committing to a supplier change. The new option replaced the original three-piece ceramic-and-plastic assembly with an interchangeable one-piece ceramic component at half the cost. The company could trial the new overseas supplier alongside its existing local supplier until it was ready to change, or continue with both.