STEA - 35
Sepsis Treatment and Early Assessment
Context: Ambulance
Contribution: Research, ideation, illustrations, prototyping, CAD
Team Members: Jinying Cheng & Thilo Fiebig
Project Collaboration: Getinge
Duration: 10 weeks
Timeframe: Autumn 2024
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment to prevent severe complications or death. This project, developed in collaboration with Getinge, focuses on decentralizing intensive care by enabling faster sepsis management in the field. We are designing a portable, user-friendly blood-cleaning device to support rapid diagnosis and treatment outside traditional hospital settings, empowering emergency responders to deliver life-saving care when every minute counts.
Background
In modern intensive care units (ICUs), real-time monitoring of vital signs is critical for patient survival—especially in cases of sepsis, where early detection and rapid intervention significantly improve outcomes. However, emergency responders often face limited equipment, high-pressure environments, and delayed diagnoses, making timely sepsis treatment challenging.
To address this, our collaboration with Getinge focuses on developing a portable device designed for both field and transport use. It enables responders to quickly assess patients, detect early signs of sepsis, and begin treatment immediately. With continuous monitoring during hospital transport, the device ensures better control over patient care, improving survival rates.
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Sepsis is a serious and life-threatening condition that happens when your body has an extreme reaction to an infection. This reaction can harm your own tissues and organs.
Recognizing the signs of sepsis early is critical because timely treatment can save lives. Sepsis can develop from almost any kind of infection, making it essential to understand and act quickly to prevent severe complications.
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Empower paramedics to identify and treat sepsis at its earliest stages to improve patient outcomes.
50
Million cases of sepsis each year
*https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sepsis
$62
Billion - Most expensive condition to treat in U.S
*https://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb306-overview-sepsis-2016-2021.pdf
11
Million people do not survive sepsis
*https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sepsis
3/4
Of sepsis cases develop outside of hospital settings
*https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6533e1.htm
Ambulance visit
During our ambulance station visit, we identified the need for quick-access storage and accurate vital sign monitoring in early sepsis treatment. Testing a cardboard model optimized workflow, while layout analysis revealed design variations affecting care. A key insight was the potential to extend ICU-level treatment from home to hospital.
How might we create a portable device for sepsis treatment that enables early diagnosis and treatment in ambulance?
Concept development
Prototyping optimized storage, workflow, and device integration for early sepsis treatment. A cardboard model refined placement, while testing transfer and mounting ensured seamless use. We improved tube connections, refills, and ambulance adaptability for greater efficiency.
Concept
STEA - 35
This project introduces a portable blood-cleaning device for emergency sepsis diagnosis and treatment on-site. Designed for ease of use and real-time monitoring, it ensures continuous care during transport, enabling early, life-saving intervention.
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This portable blood-cleaning device is designed to help emergency responders provide immediate sepsis care right at the scene.
Quick Diagnosis:
Responders assess the patient and connect the device to begin monitoring key vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.Blood Cleaning:
The device works by filtering out harmful pathogens and toxins from the bloodstream, helping to control the infection before it worsens.Continuous Monitoring:
While treatment is underway, the device tracks the patient's condition in real time and alerts responders to any critical changes, ensuring quick responses.Portable and Easy to Use:
Lightweight and fast to set up, the device can be used both on-site and during transport, allowing responders to maintain care until the patient reaches the hospital.
This system enables early, life-saving intervention, improving the chances of recovery by stopping sepsis from progressing.
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The portable blood-cleaning device is designed for emergency responders to provide fast sepsis care in critical situations.
On-Site Treatment: Responders use the device to quickly diagnose and stabilize patients by filtering toxins and monitoring vital signs.
During Transport: In ambulances, the device provides continuous care, tracking the patient’s condition until hospital staff take over.
Remote Areas: The device offers early intervention where hospital access is delayed, improving survival rates.
Field Hospitals: It supports scalable treatment in crisis situations, ensuring on-the-go care for multiple patients.
This system delivers life-saving intervention wherever it's needed most.
Diagnostic pen
After use, the diagnostic pen is securely stored in the main unit, which handles blood cleaning.
The diagnostic pen seamlessly integrates with the device for rapid sepsis assessment, measuring key biomarkers to ensure early and accurate detection.
Mount and charge
The STEA mount adjusts 45 degrees, ensuring compatibility with various ambulance layouts.
Tube connection and liquid refillment
The tube connection enables efficient blood flow and filtration in emergencies, featuring:
Input tube – Draws contaminated blood.
Filtration system – Removes toxins and pathogens.
Output tube – Returns cleaned blood.
Secure couplings – Ensure a leak-proof, sterile connection.
Designed for quick setup, it allows responders to initiate treatment immediately.
Cassette
The disposable blood-cleaning cassette allows seamless patient transfer from ambulance to hospital, with the cassette and tubes traveling with the patient, while the main unit remains in the ambulance.
Benefits
STEA-35 enables early sepsis detection and immediate treatment, stabilizing patients before hospital arrival. By starting ICU-level care in the ambulance, it improves survival rates, reduces complications, and eases hospital strain. Its compact, intuitive design ensures quick action, while seamless hospital transfer enhances patient outcomes.
Early Sepsis Detection & Treatment
The diagnostic pen quickly identifies sepsis, and the blood-cleaning cassette starts treatment before hospital arrival, significantly improving survival rates.
Higher Survival & Faster Recovery
Rapid intervention reduces mortality, prevents organ failure, and minimizes long-term health complications.
Less Hospital Strain
Early treatment shortens hospital stays, and reduces healthcare costs, freeing up resources for other critical patients.