The Intellisense handheld robotic drill technology aims to enhance orthopedic surgeries by using multiple sensors to accurately measure drilling depth, preventing improper screw implantation. Developed by Speck Design for Dr. McGinley, it integrates real-time depth measurement with automated functionality to streamline the surgical process while ensuring safety and cost-efficiency. The device has garnered positive attention in medical publications and is poised to transform the orthopedic surgery landscape.

1. INTELLISENSE DRILL
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING / MECHANICAL ENGINEERING/ USER EXPERIENCE

2. THE CLIENT:
We’re using technology to improve what we do, make it
more efficient, and to make lives better.
THE PRODUCT:
One of the biggest mistakes in orthopedic surgeries is
implanting screws that are too long or too short for the repair.
The Intellisense HandHeld Robotic Drill technology changes
all this by using multiple sensors to automatically stop the
drilling process once the bone has been penetrated to depth.
It senses depth and provides the surgeon with a precise and
accurate depth measurement automatically so they can
determine and fit bone screws to the exact size needed.​​​​​​​
McGinley Orthopedic Innovations is a medical device
company whose products increase patient safety while
reducing costs for practitioners.
INTELLISENSE DRILL
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING / MECHANICAL ENGINEERING/ USER EXPERIENCE

3. THE CHALLENGE:
Dr. McGinley came to Speck Design with an amazing idea
drawn on a napkin. He knew from our past experience in
ground-up medical and product device design we had the
expertise to create his idea of an Intellisense Drill. He wanted
a combination of features: real-time depth measuring and
integrated lighting. The tool needed to combine an otherwise
two-step process into one simple automated procedure. It
also needed to be cost-efficient to manufacture so that
physicians would choose to use the drill in a procedure.
INTELLISENSE DRILL
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING / MECHANICAL ENGINEERING/ USER EXPERIENCE

4. THE PROCESS:
Speck started out by seeking to better understand the needs
and desires of the drill's end-users, the physicians. To gain a
deeper understanding of this user experience in particular
and translate those findings into design implications, our
researchers used on-location interviews and observations
supplemented by phone interviews. To get the most
favorable results combining a two-step process, the team
focused on the clinical workflow across the different
procedure types (leg, back, etc.) time spent doing user
research from the doctor’s perspective led us to prioritize
cleaning, sterilization, and disposal to ensure a safe medical
device as well as an effective one.
INTELLISENSE DRILL
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING / MECHANICAL ENGINEERING/ USER EXPERIENCE

5. THE OUTCOME:
The IntelliSense Handheld Robotic Drill technology created
by our team of engineers succeeded in combining the two-
step process into one. The depth sensor automatically
provides the surgeon with precise and accurate depth
measurements while the drill creates a hole for the proper
length screw. In addition, the IntelliSense Drill Technology
has the potential to improve outcomes, lower costs and save
time in orthopedic surgeries. The product has been lauded by
several medical publications and is on its way to reshaping
the surgical orthopedic industry.​​​​​​​
INTELLISENSE DRILL
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING / MECHANICAL ENGINEERING/ USER EXPERIENCE