Efficient approach for a new vital signs monitor

The task

We were approached by a customer with a request to develop a new vital signs monitor recording among others the following measurements:

• heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation with optical methods;
• body temperature with an infrared thermometer;
• blood pressure with a pneumatic NIBP cuff.

In addition, the equipment controls external clinical measurement technology and integrates the measured values. The monitor is primarily intended for medical professionals to record vital signs and transfer them to the electronic health record (EHR).

Our method

The starting point for our development concept is always a system footprint workshop, where we analyze and compile the requirements on the device – from the architecture of the equipment (technologies, inputs and outputs, power management) to the architecture of the software, hardware and mechanical subsystems. The use of our own embedded system platform and a basic software already customized for medical hardware and sensors enables a considerable reduction in development time.

The Corscience project team also offered advice on what effect the design requirements can have for the production technology, for example. Does the hardware (circuit boards) we have developed have sufficient space? Do the design requirements have an effect the manufacturing and assembly of the equipment, e.g., on the wall thickness? Is the GUI (graphical user interface) design optimized for the use case and user? In addition, we took care of the technical coordination with the suppliers, tested the samples, integrated the accessory components, and coordinated all the internal and external tests required for the authorization.

The result

We delivered our customer a verified device ready for authorization and satisfying all the requirements on modern medical technology (e.g., connectivity, cybersecurity) and design specifications at the same time. Our embedded system platform means our customer can launch a complex new development on the market more quickly and secure time advantages for future projects thanks to the reusability of software modules.