Product design project – INNOSENSE mobile capsule for senses screening – carried out for the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing

The project of the mobile capsule is a development of the completed project of the stationary capsule „Innosense” (INNOvative SENSE – innovative study of the senses).
As part of the project, a prototype of the Senses Research Capsule was developed as a modular facility (it allows for multiple assembly and disassembly). The limitation of the prototype was that it could only be used indoors

Design assumptions

Description of the designed product:

The INNOSENSE mobile diagnostic capsule is adapted to work with diagnostic medical devices for senses testing, manufactured by other manufacturers, in accordance with their intended use.

Design task:
The design task was to develop a design project based on the functional design and assumptions for the construction design of the capsule. Inside the building, a technology has been installed that will allow for the diagnosis of the senses: – balance – sight – hearing – smell and speech. For this purpose, a mobile version of the capsule structure was developed, allowing easy installation (by two employees) at the place of use.

The design project takes into account low-volume production technologies and low implementation and production costs of individual elements, as well as the desired emotional and image-related features of the capsule, reported by the investor at the pre-design consultation stage.

The capsule is made of hard-flammable and self-extinguishing composite materials with bactericidal and fungicidal properties. In accordance with the requirements of eye tests and color recognition, a neutral shade of RAL 9003 was adopted for the inside of the capsule. External walls can be produced in any color. In order to fulfill the above sentences, a low-series production technology of details made of polyester-glass composite was selected.

Laser cutting and plastic working of aluminum were selected as complementary technologies. Technologies for welding and fusing aluminum were excluded. (due to the effect of uncontrolled weakening of the welded structure). To bond the construction profiles together, the technique of riveting, gluing, welding and twisting the capsule elements was used. The design uses one size of bolts for fastening all elements of the structure.

Scope of completed design works

The scope of work on the project – included:

  • development of a design project,
  • preparation of a technical design,
  • execution of a detailed design,
  • making a prototype of the capsule,
  • carrying out the conformity assessment procedure in accordance with Directive 93/42 / EEC on CE marking and granting the CE marking.
  • development and implementation of the Infokiosk project for an external monitor

The entire design work and implementation of the product for production was carried out by the WÓJCIK DESIGN team together with partners.

Innovativeness of the applied design solutions

The Sensory Examination Capsule is the world’s first integrated device for examining many human senses. Thanks to the mobile version of the capsule, a greater number of patients can benefit from this form of diagnostics.

Functional and ergonomic features of the capsule:

The design of the mobile structure includes a second door to operate wheelchairs and an electric elevator that lifts the wheelchair to the level of the capsule floor.

The structure of the tow truck is covered with composite panels, which are dismantled during transport. The walls, ceiling and floor of the capsule are insulated. The floor has built-in electric heating. The capsule has air conditioning.

The capsule was mounted on a trailer for transporting cars. The tow truck is equipped with a spoiler with a compartment for useful accessories and tools.

While driving, the side guards are hidden in a container under the floor of the tow truck, and the elements of the stairs in the space between the trailer and the capsule floor.

Due to the way of use, the trailer with capsule is equipped with its own DC 12V power source with a capacity of 80-100 Ah. It is used to power the wheelchair lift and the capsule alarm system. The gel-type battery is located in the floor of the spoiler compartment.

In the space between the plate of the tow truck and the floor of the capsule, there are compartments for transporting elements of the folding stair structure.

To ensure maximum silence inside, the capsule walls have been designed with a diffuser to dissipate the energy of sound waves with frequencies above 1 kHz. (minimizes reverberation). Inside the wall modules, a material is used that absorbs the energy of lower frequency waves.

Design effect achieved

The aim of the design team’s work was to meet the functional values ​​for both users and service technicians, while maintaining a reasonable balance between simple design, production costs and certification requirements, and the attractive shape of the capsule.

The project was carried out on the basis of research and analysis, based on the available technologies for the production of the components of the capsule. During the design work, the correctness of the assumptions described in the investor’s brief was verified. During the implementation work, further changes and improvements to the design were made. All implementation works were subject to standard author’s supervision.

The designed modules can be replaced by any trained person.

The number of components has been minimized in the product, while maintaining the expected comfort of use, as well as the ergonomics of capsule maintenance.

The project was carried out according to the brief provided by the investor, in cooperation with Elkab and Conet (companies responsible for the IT system and the cabling of the capsule) and consultants for mobility disabilities.

YEAR
2019