PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Client
Kyphon, a division of Medtronic
Industry
Medical Devices
Services
Mechanical Engineering
Rapid Prototyping
Regulatory + Quality Assurance
Manufacturing
The Challenge
The client approached Cito at the ideation phase of an accessory for their existing product line that allowed for surgical nurses to fill multiple instruments with bone cement at once. Cito was tasked with providing a design solution that would be easy-to-use, minimize material loss, and allow for rapid filling before the bone cement became too viscous to fill the instrument. Additionally, the new product needed to interface with their existing mixer product and fit into their standard packaging tray that was already being used in operating rooms worldwide.
Detailed Services
- Design for Medical Device
- Mechanical Engineering
- Rapid Prototyping
- Prototype TestingÂ
- Elemental Analysis
- Design Control Documentation
- Industrial Design + Human Factors
- Manufacturing and Assembly
- Packaging Design
- Rapid Prototyping
- Manufacturing
The Outcome
Cito’s approach was to develop multiple solutions that could be prototyped, reviewed, and tested quickly. Each prototype had an injection molded design so that all options would immediately be ready for manufacturing, streamlining the development process and saving costs. Each prototype was tested for usability in an operating room environment, Instron, on cadaver spines, and with different versions of bone cement.
The final solution was a custom manifold assembly that was cost-effective, ergonomic, and easy to use. The intuitive design was cohesive with the existing product line for a simplified user experience for nurses performing surgical preparation.
