Radiotherapy equipment gets new design

A Hothouse Product Development Partners product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 14, 2003

Hothouse Product Development Partners has employed its substantial design skills to create a distinctive new look to an advanced, higher precision radiotherapy unit.

Hothouse Product Development Partners has employed its substantial design skills to create a distinctive new look to an advanced, higher precision radiotherapy unit.

Hothouse teamed up with Elekta, a leading supplier of radiation oncology solutions, to design the entire panelling and user interface of its Elekta Synergy radiotherapy machine, following its progression from one-arm to a two-arm device.

Synergy is also available as a four-arm version, the body of which also uses the design expertise of Hothouse.

Already proving successful, the design has been finalised for a DBA Design Effectiveness Award.

Elekta also recently presented Hothouse with an Outstanding Contribution Award for its part in this project, which represents a breakthrough in both the effectiveness and aesthetic image of cancer treatment machines.

The attractive appearance of Elekta Synergy, which is available in a range of soft colours and made from glass fibre, is intended to be more appealing and less intimidating to patients.

Medical staff also benefit from the Hothouse design due to angled screens for convenient viewing and an easy-to-use remote control.

Synergy now looks like a stand-alone machine rather than the wall panel unit, which Hothouse's design replaced.

The new design of Elekta Synergy, which is already being used in some of the world's leading clinical institutions including William Beaumont Hospital, Detroit, USA, empathises with Elekta's brand and has helped drive increased sales in the USA.

The design also reflects Elekta's recent technological advances.

The arc of the arms echoes the machines imaging equipment, whilst the large, central circular ring expresses its rotation.

Hothouse addressed the project through a combination of cosmetic and engineering design.

SolidWorks computer aided design (CAD) software was used in conjunction with Elekta's existing package, SolidEdge.

Use of advanced CAD was necessary to both ensure the design met with the EEC Medical device Directive and US Food and Drug Administration's requirements as well as to provide the accuracy of build demanded by the installation of radiotherapy machines.

"CAD gave us the accuracy and speed we needed for this project", explained Neville Pryke, Senior Partner at Hothouse.

"The design process as a whole involved thorough evaluation in the virtual environment in order be as precise as the machine itself", he continued.

"This encompassing design has been a major attribute to the Elekta Synergy project and Hothouse demonstrated real commitment whilst working with us", commented Chris Snook, Imaging and Positioning Programme Group Manager at Elekta.

"The impressive new look of Elekta Synergy echoes the advanced technology of the machine itself", he concluded.