Project Cooper was a large-scale synthesis of an extensive amount of research looking to document US and European thyroid surgeons in action. Market research was used to learn what surgeons wanted; ethnographic research to learn how thyroid procedures are performed and identify tacit needs; preference testing evaluated concepts and identified opportunities for improvement, and usability testing validated product usability to meet FDA requirements. The results dramatically influenced the final product, a revolutionary device for fine and delicate surgeries that has demonstrated significant clinical outcomes for users and patients.