"Participatory design of novel medical devices addressing high clinical impact opportunities"

Dr Leonard O’Sullivan PH.D. FIES, FCIEHF, MIOSH, MIDI

Senior Lecturer in Human Factors in Design, School of Design & Health Research Institute, Universit

Dr Leonard O’Sullivan is a senior lecturer in design and human factors in the School of Design at the University of Limerick and design innovation lead in the Health Research Institute. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Limerick on work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. He is Fellow and past chairman of the Irish Ergonomics Society and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (UK). In the University he leads the Design Factors Research group and lectures Product Design students on user centered design methodologies. His research interests are user-centred design and participatory design innovation methodologies for health. At the University he currently directs two EU research projects, one on exoskeleton design for older adults to aid with mobility, and another to develop a soft robotics lower limb exoskeleton for stroke and incomplete spinal cord injury patients. He is the Irish expert representative on an ISO committee for wearable robotics. His nationally funded research projects address development of novel medical devices targeting high clinical impact and rapid commercialisation potential. He has applied this formula to several clinical specialisms to date including, urology, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, nephrology, occupational and physiotherapy and palliative care.