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Materials speed home defibrillator to market

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 25, 2004

DSM Somos reckons that when Philips Medical Systems received another excellence award for contributions and advances in the design of medical products this year, it came as no surprise.

DSM Somos reckons that when Philips Medical Systems received another excellence award for contributions and advances in the design of medical products this year, it came as no surprise.

Philips' HeartStart home defibrillator, the first of a new generation of defibrillators specifically designed for the home, was already on the way to becoming a household name.

Growing attention from the media and web was impressive, but it was the long list of accolades that turned many heads.

Dating all the way back to 1996, some may have considered Philips' recent awards old news.

But those on the leading edge of innovation cited it as a textbook example of how designers and manufacturers develop award-winning products.

Several years ago, Philips contacted Moeller Design and Development to discuss the HeartStart project.

Recognising that multiple and refined prototypes were the only way to create a revolutionary product, the design teams went to work.

As the teams discussed design and prototyping options, DSM Somos stereolithography materials quickly became the obvious choice.

DSM Somos materials offered numerous physical properties that allowed for prototypes that closely replicated the performance parameters of the new product.

The project, originally begun by using painted and textured DSM Somos 7100 parts, guaranteed rigid, high accuracy parts which proved ideal for design verification.

As the project progressed, the design prototype called for physical properties that mimicked traditional engineering plastics such as polypropylene, polycarbonate and ABS, properties fulfilled by the use of DSM Somos 10120.

"When we work with DSM Somos, we know their innovation, experience and depth of product offering gives our customers the advantage", said Moeller Design and Development CEO Dave Moeller.

"Almost anyone can make a quick part, but excellence is the result of expertise".

The diversity of DSM Somos material provided excellent design verification models which later became dimensionally stable patterns for urethane castings.

Cast urethane prototypes identified fit, functional options, features, and ensured against potential production problems.

SL patterns were built for tooling the unit's cartridge handle, on/off and shock buttons.

From prototypes to production, DSM Somos resins enhanced the entire product development process by offering a multitude of choices to designers.

Well researched, prototyped and tested, Philips' HeartStart home defibrillator entered the consumer marketplace as an award-winning product, receiving: the MDEA Award "2003 Medical Design Excellence Awards", the USA Weekend's " 2003's Best Innovations", Popular Science "Best of What's New 2003", "Best Products of 2002" Business Week and USA Today, and IDSA and Business Week "2003 Gold Industrial Design Excellence Award".