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A Brand New Product Concept: the Spotchem
D-Concept |
Development Codename: Dekki System
The development of the Spotchem D-Concept began
with an idea to create a common platform for various medical
testing devices. The developing team members had many discussions
on the idea of completely standardizing the parts designed
for each model such as the operation part, printer, communication,
which had been independently designed for each of the previous
models. Finally we determined a concrete development concept:
measurement units like components whereby we could develop
a system like a hi-fi (called "dekki" in Japan),
where the customer could choose which unit combination he
or she wanted.
With this concept, the development of the Dekki System got
into full swing. This is how the customizable POCT system,
completely new to customers, came into being.
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Dry clinical chemistry analyzer
SPOTCHEM D-Concept
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Keywords: Design, Component and Network
In order to provide a brand new product concept, the design
team came up with the developmental keywords design component
and network.
Design
Create an innovative design that casts aside the image
of previous medical testing devices and is suggestive
of a high-end consumer appliance.
Component
Think of componentization which allows the users to choose
and connect measurement units based on their needs. A
unit can be stacked on top of another so a newly added
unit will require no extra space for installation. It
was thought that the device's small footprint would be
a big incentive to customers for whom space is a concern.
Network
Improve remote monitoring system, which had been tested
in previous models, to be available with the new device
to provide higher value service with the use of our network.
With these keywords as a base we derived a concrete product
image with which we could move ahead into the development
of a unique system never before seen.
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Overcoming problems unsolvable by
extrapolating from existing products
The development of a completely new system was a battle
against problems that did not occur with the development
of systems similar to but better than currently available
models. For example, to apply for marketing authorization
required the testing of each combination of units, which
would, in the previous method, take up a large number of
man hours and significantly inflate costs. Two such problems
were how to keep the labor and cost down and also, the need
for not only experience, but also applied skills. Also because
the design of the device was completely different from any
previous ARKRAY products, our accumulated know-how was of
no use in certain areas such as the surface finish of the
keypad and the outer coating, so it was very difficult.
The mechanical system developers had to employ a significant
amount of trial and error in their work and the software
developers too, had to deal with many problems. How can
we attain the goals of expandability and versatility and
at the same time user-friendliness? We also struggled with
how to maintain design versatility with given limited resources
such as memory size and CPU performance for the new measurement
units to be developed and connected in the future. We began
to find more and more problems that we had not faced when
developing conventional stand-alone models. We had many
ideas and techniques in more intangible areas such as software
to overcome one problem after another.
Componentization was a superb concept which seemed that
anyone could have come up with but nobody had actually.
Without the flexible ideas and the passion of the development
staff, this would not have become a reality.
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Challenges, frustrations and challenges again
Eventually we completed a prototype device and finalized
design and product specifications. Then there was a pertinent
remark in one of our internal company meetings.'The height
of each unit is too high. When considering the use by stacking
one on top of another, the commercial viability of the device
both in the sense of design and the operability, will be
reduced'.
Mechanical system developers immediately set about looking
at how to reduce the height. We found that we would have
to make more changes and redo more evaluations than we had
expected and we also realized that we needed to completely
revise our schedule. We also had several problems remaining
with the D-concept system. With the immunological analysis
unit D-01 residual liquid adhering to the end of the tip
caused residual liquid contamination, which lowered the
measurement precision below the required level. After several
trials and errors to solve this problem, a member made a
breakthrough of the entire situation. He designed a device
for pushing tip point into contact with a groove (already
made on the reagent pack) to draw off the residual liquid
and this invention was patented. In order to fit the biochemical
analysis unit D-02 into the stacked system, we found that
a problem with getting access through the underside, (which
he had done with conventional models) to the optical unit
for cleaning as part of maintenance. We brainstormed this
problem and got a novel idea of using cleaning paper.
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The
reagent pack has a groove at one end.
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Residual
liquid on the end of the tip is drawn into
the groove. |
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Cleaning paper was used in the form
of an absorbent pad like reagent pads on the multiple
test strip.
When a vessel containing distilled water was set inside
the device and the start key was pressed, the distilled
water was applied on the cleaning paper. Then the
wet cleaning paper pad was moved back and forth over
the optical window to automatically clean it.
We had tried even unusual ideas with a positive
attitude 'don't knock it until you have tried it,
so let's give it a go', and solved problems in this
way. The D-Concept was able to bounce back even
stronger from the frustrations that it suffered.
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cleaning paper used in the automatic cleaning increases
ease of maintenance. |
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| And so, to the real D-Concept
When the D-Concept was visibly nearing completion, we
faced still large problems in transition to the manufacturing
phase. The quality of individual parts was unstable, assembly
of the unit was difficult, and the inspection criteria
were not determined yet. There were areas which we thought
we had adequately addressed but the effect from cumulative
immediate changes caused communication problems between
the development team and the factory. In the face of the
manufacture of a completely new system, people in charge
of manufacturing could barely hide their confusion and
uncertainty.
Yet the devotion of members on both the development and
manufacturing side filtered through and ultimately development
and factory became one in working toward a common goal.
During the process of developing the D-Concept various
individuals working on different tasks grew together with
one purpose to create the D-Concept. The new system development
allowed connected use of several testing devices while
creating a number of human connections. This can be another
true meaning of D-Concept achievement.
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