SONOWAND INVITE
2007
SonoWand Invite™
Neuronavigation system
The Invite is an image guidance system for neurosurgeons, improving the quality of brain surgery. Using optical tracking and ultrasound, the surgeon can operate inside the patient’s brain while comparing instrument position with ongoing ultrasound scans and preoperative CT / MRI images.
Contracted by Sonowand Norway, I was responsible for industrial design and production surfaces, and was also in charge of larger parts of mechanical architecture.
The system was designed to be compact, light weight and mobile, according to the ergonomic requirements of the operating room staff. Users helped during development, with defining requirements and prototype evaluation.
Medical requirements: Medical devices has to comply with a variety of strict requirements, covering ease of cleaning / sterilization, mechanical robustness and RF shielding.
As an example, all floor devices must handle a multitude of shocks as a result of moving over doorsteps and bumping into walls.
Low-volume methods: As is normal, the product price was set before the design process. During concept development, parts cost versus investment was evaluated continuously.
The design process went heavily into how to achieve a clean, modern design with the suitable production methods and investment budget.
Compared with more established systems, the Sonowand Invite was designed under rigorous demands to simplicity. Production methods and materials were carefully selected to maintain ease of production while retaining a soft expression and a clear design identity.
Instead of injection moulded plastic shells on sheetmetal frame, most covers are structural elements, combining a wide range of technologies: Aluminium profiles, RIM casted plastic with in-moulded steel reinforcements, vacuum formed plastic, sheetmetal, casted aluminium and injection moulded details.
As a result, smaller series can be produced economically while meeting requirements to functionality, aesthetics and ergonomics.
