Clear, safe and controlled

Quirem Medical


Quirem Medical was founded in 2012 as a spin-off of the UMC Utrecht. The company develops Holmium microspheres that are used for radio embolization, an innovative treatment method primarily for liver cancer.  During this treatment, radioactive particles are inserted locally into a tumour. The radiation these particles emit kills cancer cells.

QuiremSpheres by npk design

Clear, safe and controlled

Quirem Medical asked us to develop a high-quality accessory set that would make administering the treatment clearer, easier and safer for treating physicians. The design had to feature high-quality aesthetics and be aligned with current technology.

The entire accessory set consists of several components. First there is the protective housing in which the Holmium suspension is diluted. For safety reasons, the vial with the suspension is in a separate holder. The holder and the single-use set that is connected to it were also a part of the assignment.

QuiremSpheres by npk design
QuiremSpheres by npk design

User research

It begins by observing how things are done on the work floor and by interviewing users. In this phase we typically propose conceptual solutions and try to figure out how all the components fit in the whole. Feedback from users enables us to optimize the workflow. For Quirem this approach resulted in a logical organization consisting of a reduced number of components and increased user convenience.

Due to the radioactive character of the Holmium suspension, the design is subject to strict requirements. Various concepts were compared, and there was some vigorous discussion as to how the concept should be ‘as safe as possible’ in order to meet the standards requirements. The result was a streamlined, transparent system.

User manuals and use

The cooperation went so well that it was a logical step for Quirem to also ask us to develop the design of the user manual, quick reference card, prototypes and photography for customer communications.

QuiremSpheres by npk design

“The first patient treatment with QuiremSpheres® went very smoothly from the start. The successful design made a significant contribution here. The enthusiasm and commitment of the npk team helped to make this success possible.”

Sander Poelert, Product Manager Quirem Medical bv

QuiremSpheres by npk design

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