Boehringer Ingelheim's Respimat®: Reshaping Inhalation Therapy

Device description

Respimat^® is an add-on maintenance treatment in adult patients with asthma who are currently treated with the maintenance combination of inhaled corticosteroids.

Challenge

To apply human factors engineering comprehensively over the course of developing a new version of the Respimat inhaler: a reusable inhaler. The ultimate goal was to develop a product, including the inhalation device, cartridges, device labeling, packaging and IFU, that is safe, effective and satisfying to use by users in multiple markets.

Solution

Emergo worked collaboratively with Boehringer Ingelheim to design the inhaler's packaging, IFU, and labeling for the inhaler and cartridge. During the course of designing the materials, we conducted two formative usability tests to evaluate the designs, compare different design concepts, and seek opportunities to further improve clarity and usability of the materials. After finalizing the designs, we conducted a summative usability test in three countries (the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil) to validate that the inhaler and associated materials could be used safely and effectively by intended users in multiple markets.

Impact

Boehringer Ingelheim reached out to us at the start of their labeling, packaging and IFU design stage. As a result, Emergo's Human Factors Research & Design team was able to conduct an iterative and user-centered design process, gathering intended users' feedback during multiple formative evaluations, and implementing evaluation feedback directly into improved design versions. Boehringer Ingelheim submitted a summary of this human factors engineering (HFE) process to their notified body and received no substantive comments on the summary HFE report, confirming that a compliant and successful HFE process was followed during development of the inhaler.