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“It is very special to build something from the ground up that will soon be used in the OR’’

After open-heart surgery, every minute counts. The risk of complications is high, and the patient needs intensive monitoring. In close collaboration with Haermonics, Demcon is therefore developing the Pure system: a medical device that actively flushes the area around the heart and removes exudate to support a more stable recovery. This flushing technology helps prevent patients from dying after otherwise successful open-heart surgery due to complications caused by blood clots.

Mechanical engineer Tess van Pelt has been working on this innovative system since day one. She explains what it is like to develop an entirely new medical device designed for use in the most critical hospital environments.

WHAT MAKES THE PROJECT TECHNICALLY CHALLENGING?

When Tess joined the project in 2023, nothing had been built yet. “We went from zero to a system that meets all medical requirements in a very short time,” she says. “Within two years, we had submitted all the necessary documentation to the notified body. For a device this complex, that’s incredibly fast.” Haermonics Pure™ contains multiple pumps, various sensors, and software designed to ensure that everything works together seamlessly. Integrating all of these elements is technically challenging. Compared to many other systems, Haermonics Pure™ offers several core functions that must all be equally reliable. Tess works on the full hardware integration: the housing, electronics, sensors and the mechanical design that ensures everything is sturdy, waterproof, safe and logically structured. “Everything comes together in the mechanical design. The system has to be robust, easy to clean and intuitive to use.”

Usability has been a key focus from the very beginning. For this, the industrial design engineer provides input to the mechanical engineer, who then translates that into a design. As Haermonics Pure™ is designed for use in operating rooms and intensive care units, workflows must be clear, and steps must be executable quickly and without error. “Hospital users are demanding — and they should be,” Tess continues. “We have developed countless mock-ups and presented each one to intensivists and doctors. What must they be able to access? What feels intuitive? How can it be implemented in their day-to-day activities?” Tess even attended an open-heart surgery herself to better understand how Haermonics Pure™ can ultimately be integrated into the procedure. “That experience was incredibly valuable in understanding what really matters.”

WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT SO SPECIAL?

The project is unique because of the close collaboration with Haermonics, the company behind the original concept. “They bring the clinical vision and hospital connections; we bring the technical expertise,” Tess explains. “We’re truly building this together. That is what makes this project so special.”

Beyond the technical challenges, the medical impact is what drew Tess to the project. “I prefer to work on medical projects, especially in critical care. It’s motivating to develop something that has to be absolutely safe and reliable.” What also makes this project stand out is that the Haermonics Pure™ system is entirely new  — there were no existing references. It was built completely from scratch. Having been involved from the earliest stages, Tess feels a strong personal connection to the final result. “I can see my decisions reflected in the end result — and the things I would do differently today. I can learn a lot from that.”

WHAT MAKES YOU PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THIS PROJECT?

Tess is proud of the project's outcome. “From the very first sketch to the clinical trials. It is rare to experience the entire process in such a short period of time. Haermonics Pure™ ended up being technically complex, medically relevant and highly personal. With this system, we can make a difference for patients recovering from such an invasive procedure. That feels very special.”

Would you like to learn more about mechanical engineering at Demcon? Come visit us for a cup of coffee (or tea). Send an email to coffee@demcon.com and we will be happy to contact you!

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