Assigned task: change an appearance of mammograph without changing its base in a short period of time.
Customer needed to get an updated mammography much different in appearance after making significant changes to an electronic part.
During the first stage the technology of mammographic studies has been studied, female subjects were interrogated (both patient and employee of mammography room), design mammographs of competitors was studied.
Customer needed to get an updated mammography much different in appearance after making significant changes to an electronic part.
During the first stage the technology of mammographic studies has been studied, female subjects were interrogated (both patient and employee of mammography room), design mammographs of competitors was studied.
What we have learned:
• the procedure is very painful, pressing vane lies heavy on a breast;
• the procedure is very painful, pressing vane lies heavy on a breast;
• cold surfaces of a pressing vane and detection table give additional discomfort to the procedure;
• the majority of mammographs have design reminiscent of industrial equipment, have angular shape, similar to the machine tool.
Importantly: patients are afraid of mammography. First of all there’s a fear to get a bad result of mammography and secondly - adverse factors noted above.
Importantly: patients are afraid of mammography. First of all there’s a fear to get a bad result of mammography and secondly - adverse factors noted above.
Manufacture
My task also included searching for the manufacturer. Despite the customer had an experience to product enclosure guard by a method of fiberglass pasting it is the technology of vacuum forming that was chosen for new design. Such enclosure guards are lighter, stronger and most importantly – cheap for manufacture. It’s enough to take the other sheet of plastic for forming in order to change the color and the type of parts surface (gloss/shagreen).
Base (chassis) which had to be packed in a new enclosure guard.
5 main parts were necessary for the rack took, two side parts are completely symmetrical, i.e. they’re formed on a single matrix, which saves a lot of money. 5 parts close the rotary C-arc (6 in the prototype).
Working prototype of mammograph at an exhibition during the first presentation of the new design.
Mammography after processing of deficiencies identified by the prototype.
Mammography after processing of deficiencies identified by the prototype.
The construction of enclosure guards of the rotary C-arm was improved after assembling of the prototype. Parts became one less, but the matrix has one more.
In the first version two parts were molded at one matrix for saving, but in this case the assembly labor abolished saving effect.
The height of the rotary C-arm is adjusted for the growth of the patient. It can be deflected in order to make X-ray image of the breast in different projections.
Resume
6 months from the beginning of the research to a working prototype.
Prototype that was announced on the profile exhibition received high marks and was launched in the series after self-reliant modification by the customer.
According to surveys of patients new design is associated with cosmetic equipment, tools for beauty rather than medical equipment. "It's soft, not evil. I’m not scary to go for a mammography"
Development of the project
An appearance of mammograph can be easily adapted to the look of interior office or corporate identity of a certain clinic by changing the plastic used for molding.
System used to divert attention
System used to divert attention was developed to reduce pain during the procedure.
Different working modes of mammograph are visualized by RGB-LED strips embedded in the silicone seal. Silicone seal with the lighting system can be installed in place of conventional seals without the modification of mammograph’s construction. The patient following the request of the staff monitors the change in color of the luminous elements and performs given instructions (e.g., "get ready on yellow lights, do not move on flashing red lights"). Focusing attention on the running lights divert attention from the pain.
Heating of a pressing vane and the detection table
Unfortunately, we were not able to remove this negative yet. Construction of the mammograph provides the ability to use infrared light to heat surfaces that contact with the patient's skin. Unfortunately heating of the detection table leads to a deterioration of image quality. We need further studies and work to eliminate this adverse factor.
