STUDIO BACKS specializes in end-to-end design for advanced medical instruments and healthcare equipment, including:
Robotics & Minimally Invasive Systems: Endoscopy (Bronchoscopy & Urology), spinal repair, thrombectomy devices, and advanced catheters.
Imaging & Diagnostics: Mobile CT scanners, nuclear imaging, multivariate stroke detection, and vein illumination.
Therapeutics & Drug Delivery: MEMS medication management, transdermal applicators, and patient-controlled sedation.
Sanitation & Patient Wellness: UV decontamination, infection prevention, glucose readers, and sleep enhancement devices.
This revolutionary and highly complex procedure needed to be packaged in a one-of-a-kind cart to provide peripheral Thrombectomy Clot Removal, including blood return functionality.
The design development process included early definition of the product architecture (whether it was a tabletop or an integral floor-standing cart), identifying reusable elements, consumables, and disposable modules. Definition of the cart content included the location of system power supply, vacuum + water pump, pressure + saline pumps, pressure sensors, pinch valves, physician and tech monitors with a pole-mounted 27” monitor, onboard storage for replaceable modules, external water inlet connections for onboard supply, IV pole mount, and additional saline and waste bag holders, connections to the gantry, data input and output, and all cable management.
Major ergonomic and usability issues evolved around the ideal height restrictions to include full visibility of the clot catcher, accessibility to the cartridge, while fitting all vertically stacked components as efficiently as possible inside the volume considering access, heat dissipation, vibration, and center of gravity. The unit needed to be designed to be as efficient as possible with the smallest footprint and high maneuverability, ideal caster placement, as the unit would need to be easily moved between procedures out of the catheterization labs into the aisle or storage room.
The cassette presented the biggest challenge, as it needed to be handed from a sterile to a non-sterile field while making multiple connections to the patient. The accessibility to the cartridge for the tech and doctor, who are positioned on opposite sides of the unit, presented numerous challenges. The cassette is a highly sophisticated one-time use module that houses all plumbing, hoses, filters, and three foldable sterile bags used for aspiration and irrigation. This highly complicated procedure involving identifying and locating the clot, breaking it down with a process of jetting and a combination of suction, while minimizing blood loss to the patient.
MONARCH Platform
For the treatment of pulmonary care medicine (lung cancer), the Patient Introducer represents a vital part of the platform, safely guiding the bronchoscopic laser to the patient’s lungs for virtual navigation. The robotic laser fiber is then able to identify lesions at the far periphery of the lung.
Two of the robotic arms hold and position the laser fiber, while a third robotic arm was introduced to hold the Patient Introducer. A precise bend radius had to be maintained to ensure ideal laser movement while providing features to hold luer fittings in place. Visual integration with the third upper robotic arm was key. A wide array of concepts was developed in 3D CAD and as prototypes.
MONARCH Platform
The MONARCH Platform is used in urology for the treatment of kidney stones.
The system comprised three robotic arms: one holding the Handle (Ureteroscope) and Basket, the second holding the Distal Drive, and the third holding a Compact Field Generator (not shown here) next to the kidney.
To improve docking of the Robotic Ureteroscope Handle, we included a landing guide wall with visual alignment cues to ensure precise and intuitive loading of the Handle each time it is used on the upper robotic arm. The Basket itself needed to dock parallel to the Handle while holding the ureteral access sheath in place at the bottom and at a loop on top as it re-enters the Basket.
The Basket includes a release button from the upper robotic platform, a latch to close and lock the ureteral access sheath in place, and a thumb slider used when the Basket is held on its own by the physician after being removed from the upper robotic arm.
On the second robotic arm, the Distal Drive securely holds the ureteral access sheath before entering the patient. The last step is loading the Laser Fiber through the ureteral access sheath.
A clear and minimal black-and-white color strategy was applied to highlight areas of ergonomics, use, and importance. Handheld areas were treated with soft form transitions to help bring a cohesive design language to these complex procedural accessories.
The development was completed in collaboration with Auris Health (now J&J) and Astro (now part of PA Consulting).
Systems and Methods For Multivariate Stroke Detection
Imperative Care is developing connected innovations to elevate care for people affected by devastating vascular diseases such as stroke and pulmonary embolism. To detect a potential stroke, the system requires two bands that need to be worn on both wrists.
Electrodes must protrude to create pressure points onto wrists while also providing flexibility. The ambient temperature sensor, infrared temperature sensor, and optical heart rate sensor located in the center of the heating film are crucial components for early stroke detection.
Dialysis machine
The new Tablo Fluidics Cart addressed current pain points of the platform in terms of mobility, height, cartridge access, cable management, ease-of-use, assembly and water filtration including filter changing.
Filter Changing Animation in Fluidics Drawer of Tablo Dialysis cart.
The filter clip tension, pivot point, and motion needed to be precisely tuned to provide easy access and sufficient tension to securely hold six different dialysis filters in place. The spring-loaded clip was designed to open while inserting the filters, enabling one-handed operation. (Filter diameter sizes range from 36.80mm up to 50.54mm)
The silicone hose exit points needed to be positioned with precise length to provide an ideal bend radius for storing the Hanson male ports (red & blue ports), while also allowing access to all 6 filters sizes.
Additional considerations included cartridge attachment, grip placement, and tubing routing management to prevent pinching of the tubing. The entire console was slightly tilted to provide optimal viewing and accessibility.
KIVA for Advanced Spinal Repair
Complete redesign of external handle and internal mechanism, including new deployment methodology, locking/unlocking safety features, new drive knob, ergonomic grip with overmolding allowing for towards/away facing grip positions, Distal hub, Working cannula and Access tools.
Kiva Coil and Kiva Implant can be precisely monitored through a status window providing feedback to the physician minimizing errors and malfunctions. The new deployment handle guides new users as an excellent training tool them step-by-step. The design included development of graphics and icons for Coil and Implant sides, CMF and logo.
functional and semi-functional prototype development
BLAZER Vertebral Augmentation System for Spinal Repair
This state-of-the-art device for vertebral augmentation procedures used for minimal invasive treatments for compression of the vertebral body. Multiple cavities in the spinal bone structure are created for flow of bone cement. The circular cavity creation provides channels for controlled distribution of cement fill to conserve the native bone structure.
The system contains the deployment handle and drive knob, spring-loaded Blazer sleeve, Working Cannula Hub, Stylet, Introducer, Cement Needle with luer fitting as Access Tools. This single-use orthopedic instrument is used both by surgeons and interventional radiologists.
Luna 3D Interbody Fusion System
The Luna® 3D features a small profile PEEK® implant designed to be expanded in-situ within the disc space. This characteristic allows the surgeon to restore disc height using a well-established posterior surgical approach while providing stable fixation via a larger construct that is more often achieved using an anterior approach. The Luna 3D Zip Sleeve provides a simple, sleek delivery of the Luna 3D implant through inserter stabilization and implant compression ensuring a consistent delivery of the interbody device.
Needleless Glucose Measurement
Non-invasive sensors designed to offer support in laboratory-scale medical diagnostics. ZYOMED's sensors include photonic sensors for amplifying and tracking indirect spectral biomarkers associated with changes in blood or tissue chemistry, enabling users to promote efficiency in their diagnosis and ensure better health outcomes.
Zyomed’s reader is a simple home-use device set on top of the patients lower arm, uses a camera light path through human skin tissue to read Glucose level. Special attention had to be given to the display providing a countdown feature, to get an exact glucose reading, initial reading and calibration. The interface was driven by a modern clean look which features a colored bar graph. Accurate sampling requires the probe tip to be calibrated and be in contact with Zyogel (laboratory synthesized gel) called “diffuse reflectance mode”.
Sleep Enhancement Device
Headband with integrated brain stimulation for sleep, performance, health, and treatment; the use of multi-modal non-invasive brain stimulation (tES, EEG, Vibratory) that is personalized for individuals for efficacious enhancements of sleep, cognitive performance, memory/motor improvement.
UV Decontamination and Sterilization
Mobile CT Scanner
Consumer-like appearance to fit CT unit potential Dentistry, ENT Clinic, Orthopedic or Plastic Surgery environments. Seamless design with smooth integration of surfaces to support perception of hygiene. Iconic design to focus around the Gantry core emphasized with concentric handle. Design includes patient monitoring cameras and optional radiation shields.
Wheeled Floor Stand
AccuVein's wheeled stand is the latest in hands-free accessories and is ideal for any medical setting in which vein illumination needs to be brought to the patient, as the stand's stable base and smooth gliding wheels allow it to be easily maneuvered. AccuVein's AV400 handheld device charges while it's in the cradle in a secure "quick cup" of the stand.
The "quick cup" allows the AV400 to be easily placed with one hand to the stand after assessing the vasculature to be ready to perform the venipuncture. Using the ball joint arm, the AV400 can be precisely positioned to keep the selected vein highlighted.
Mobile Nuclear Medicine Imaging System
Nuclear imaging camera for various general large field-of-view applications. This surgeon-centric designed system with two flexible screens (detector screen and surgeon screen), optical camera to provide spatial placement of the nodes, is designed to offer maximum clinical versatility and positional flexibility for patients sitting up or laying down in imaging centers.
Cordless Nail Trimmer
Exfoliay allows people to safely exfoliate their calluses down to healthy underlying tissue. The oscillating action wears away hardened skin and nails.
Pacemaker Programmer
This portable pacemaker programmer with removable tablet and wand features a highly modular and expandable system, with PSA module and ports on the patient's side. It provides better patient care and increased efficiency for procedures.
The tablet with touchscreen display and internal antenna provides the highest flexibility and mobility for the technician. The compact tablet can be handheld, or set to low angle or upright positions with the internal stand.
Drug Applicator and Patch
Developed originally for ALZA/Macroflux, this applicator with patch ring and adhesive drug-infused adhesive patch is a technology that will replace traditional, painful needle injections.
Automatic Pull-Back Device
This automatic pull-back device is used in intravascular ultrasound procedures. In the new design, all mechanisms are contained in the handheld component, making the 'sled' a disposable part and eliminating the need for sterile plastic sleeves. The device is designed for one handed use and features many user benefits.
The Avisa BreathTest is the world’s first point of care biomarker system that analyzes exhaled breath to detect & monitor Pulmonary infections.
This simple drug/device combination measures the whole lung, live organisms in just 10 minutes, akin to a thermometer.
We worked closely with Avisa’s David Karshmer and his R&D team to develop this design.
GUI wireframes based on a simple “Rolodex-like” system
Digital Cell Biology At Light Speed
Berkeley Lights’ Lighthouse 1.0 was BLI’s first instrument to focus on creating a device to manipulate single cells for applications in biopharma, diagnostics and life science. BLI had created a proof-of-concept floor standing unit, and was seeking to develop a bench-top version of the device for lab environments. The platform allows to directly visualize individual cells in real time. This agile platform provides ownership and visibility into every step of the experiment, flexibility to run a multitude of assays, and fast iteration that drives discovery.
