Product design is a unique process that requires collaboration between designers, engineers, and scientists. It is a process that is constantly evolving. And before saying a design is successful, there are numerous R&D processes where prototyping plays a vital role these days. Right now 3D printing is involved in medical products prototyping, but when you have access to the bulk production, the prototype injection molding is an efficient process that you should consider to achieve your design.
If you want your product to be successful, it has to meet the needs of the people who use it. Efficient and effective product design can help make medical products more accessible, and this is what this article will be about.
If you’re looking to design a new medical product, you’ve probably already heard about the importance of market research, product design, and product development. But what does all that mean? And how does it all come together to create a successful medical product?
First Rule – The Design should be “Less Medical.”
As medical research advances, more individuals rely on medical gadgets to maintain their independence. These things can be designed to have an amazing appearance, improve the quality of life, and create a positive perception. Respirators, for example. Oxygen concentrators, pumps, and elevators will all become commonplace in the future. However, few people desire to stand out from the crowd or be identified by their devices.
Design medical product
Even more popular are gadgets that are used for overall health maintenance and monitoring rather than for acute therapy. Individuals tend to be quite private about their health, so apps and wearable gadgets that assist people in maintaining their health and fitness certainly don’t want to be too visible. Designers in Medical industry use the prototype injection molding process to make “Less medical” designs more available.
Second Rule – The device must Be Easily Cleanable
After the design concept, this is the most important part of medical devices – they must be easily cleanable. The device you are going to design can be exposed to acids, alcohols, fluids coming out of the body, reagents, and various types of bacteria and viruses.
As those are medical devices, they should not contain any harmful things on it. As a result, you have to ensure the design can make sure that users will be able to clean it quickly and effortlessly.
Many goods are constructed using plastic injection molding, which implies that tiny gaps will exist between housings and enclosures. If these are inevitable, there are a few mitigation options. Although these seams can be concealed by overlapping features or fake coverings if necessary, the sealed gap should be as tight as feasible. Gaps that are revealed should be able to be cleaned with at least a fingertip, depending on the environment in which the product will be used.
Third Rule – Understanding Users’ Demand
Medical devices must make a balance between function and aesthetics. The device must be able to capture the consumer’s attention. It was not necessary in the past, but now people are more conscious about the device’s looks.
Medical gadgets that are both quiet and non-embarrassing are becoming increasingly popular. Keep in mind that designers must comprehend consumer needs at all levels, from broad to specific. Based on the information, a designer can create a concept design and a design review form and checklist. This ensures that everyone is on the same page.
Fourth Rule – It should Be Easy to Grab
Rough or abrasive textures are rarely found in a hospital or medical setting. When it comes to holding a product in your hand, it should be neither too smooth nor too sticky. Holdable forms are designed to accommodate the human hand’s curves while delivering adequate tactile feedback without requiring a firm grasp. Matte or lightly sanded textures are functional as well as appealing to the eye.
Fifth Rule – Consumers’ Opinion
People do not always know what they require. They will be more than happy to tell you how they feel about anything, especially regarding their health. You can show them a design prototype and record their thoughts and feelings. You will most likely supply them with the technical side of things, while they will provide you with their own opinions and thoughts.
Listen to their suggestions and apply them to enhance the design. Find a method to incorporate their suggestions into your own.
Sixth Rule – Apply color with care
Color plays a big role in designing any product. When it comes to the medical product, you should use your color intelligently. For example, if the device has buttons, safe buttons should
Human beings have a profound emotional relationship to color. Warm hues like golds and yellows provide a feeling of peace in prenatal settings designed to stimulate caring, while bright primary colors are entertaining and appealing to children in other scenarios. Bright colors offer vitality and excitement, which might be used in fitness or activity-related healthcare items.
Conclusion
We have talked about six rules in this article. But those are not enough. There are some more things to consider before designing a medical product. For example, the design should be simple and easy to locate. There are many other factors to consider. But we have discussed some of the top rules. We hope this article was helpful for new medical product designers and learning engineers.
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