Our team was commissioned by a medical device start-up who wanted to upset the laboratory device market with a compact version of a cell-sorting device that used to take up whole sections of laboratories by replacing them with this benchtop-sized model instead. They wanted to eschew the medical device aesthetic in favor of simplicity and accessibility.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
Sterilizable, corrosion-resistant materials required
Internal sheet-metal chassis design required
12-inch touchscreen required
Operates in biohazard cabinet:
maximum working dimensions of 50”W x 30”H x 24”D3 internal compartments: Sorting, fluidics, and computation
3 operator/ technician access areas:
Hourly – Sample loading
Daily – Operational fluid loading
Weekly – Pump maintenance
Client-provided files
This assemblage was provided by the client for inclusion in the primary assembly.
Sheet metal chassis
A structure was developed cooperatively with the client’s internal engineering team and our design and engineering team.
Process
During our concept refinement phase, two conceptual directions were blended to achieve a functional form that was well-received by the client.
Revision A
Meeting all the enclosure challenges at that time, the first revision of the machine met client ideals but drew out complications that weren’t understood initially.
Revision B
Over a few subsequent months, the internals were rearranged and the enclosure grew in width to include superseded components.
With and expected use of 1 to 2 times per hour, door access was afforded in the front, while keeping within the maximum operating dimensions, through a modified 4-bar hinge system.
With a less frequent access necessary, the side and top doors were made for low-level maintenance and repair.
Four trim levels were planned based on specific configurations for different laboratory use-cases.
Working Prototype
Finally, a full scale working prototype was made from folded sheet steel, machined aluminum, custom glass, 3-D printed panels, and off-the-shelf electronics.
