Technologies for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) need to take
into account local cost, usability and maintenance challenges, and ‘modular’
device designs can be one way of overcoming these challenges. However,
despite research into the design advantages of these devices, the adoption
challenges have not yet been investigated.
This research aims to make the adoption of modular laparoscopic instruments possible in LMICs, starting in India with four types of local hospitals. It aims to find the various actors and factors, including stakeholders that play a role in making this technology successfully adopted in India. The study involves desktop research to analyse LMIC markets with respect to surgical instruments, followed by qualitative research to identify barriers and facilitators to the adoption of these instruments in the Indian context. For this, we will conduct interviews and observations with experts and practitioners developing and using laparoscopic instruments in Indian hospitals. All findings will result in a case study that combines all findings and concludes with a framework that covers all aspects related to the successful adoption of modular steerable laparoscopic instruments with
interchangeable end-effectors