MARCOR DIALYSIS MEDICAL CART
Hospitals should be sterile. Especially when the equipment is delivering medically pure water. Mar Cor’s current cart for transporting reverse osmosis (RO) equipment for hemodialysis was clunky, but worst of all it was rusting and eroding.
Hemodialysis is a procedure performed in hospitals and clinics for ongoing treatment of kidney failure to purify the patient’s blood. As our team went out to observe the product through contextual research, it was clear that the carts used to carry RO machines are often very heavy and challenging for nurses to maneuver through hallways and small hospital rooms.
The project began with a goal to design a plastic cart that would not rust, but also to make design decisions that would improve the usability and experience for nurses administering care.
ClientMar CorServicesIndustrial Design, SolidWorks, Keyshot RenderingYear2018
DESIGNING AN EXPERIENCE
Reaction injection molding (RIM) was the chosen direction for this cart to reduce rust, provide structure, and a new non-sheet-metal driven aesthetic. With that in mind, we began concepting how to mold in all of the necessary features for free, and a vision for Mar Cor’s new visual brand language.
RIM provided a myriad of benefits, including the ability to soften features from their sheet-metal visuals of previous carts. Those old carts would damage walls and doors with their brake-form edges, and we had the opportunity to think about the design from the ground up.
ERGONOMICS & VISIBILITY
Due to the tight spaces where the cart is used, the user needs to be able to see the RO machine interface from a close distance. When pushing the cart, the user also needs to be able to see over the front edge. Early prototypes revealed that sightlines were obstructed during maneuverability. Designs and form lines were refined to ensure that users of varying heights would be able to view and use the cart effectively.
The top and front of the cart are the primary places for nurse interaction. During initial observation of the user, our team saw that the nurses often use the cart as a workspace during patient care due to limited space. The top of the cart is designed as a flat workspace with a small compartment to bring along medications or other supplies to help maximize efficiency during patient care. The front of the machine clearly displays readings of the water purification to verify and record. Three test ports are prominently placed with an added drip tray to catch any excess and avoid messes.
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
Collaborating with engineers, several layouts were conceptualized to be able to house all items in the smallest footprint possible while still providing the necessary access to be able to change filters, connect hoses, and organize accessories. All of these items used to be exposed in the previous generation cart, but now could be housed inside for visual simplicity and behind a locked door for medical security.
Several prototypes were generated at multiple phases of the development process, and FEA studies were completed to ensure it could withstand the stresses of the environment.
SAFE, CLEAN, AND STREAMLINED
The refined Mar Cor Rover Dialysis Water Transport System provides a streamlined solution for both production and user. The single part reaction injection molded solution reduced assembly time and inventory space needed. Detailed engineering handoff to production helped Mar Cor avoid part tolerance issues for a faster production timeline.
The new cart’s durable enclosure is not only clean and rust-free, but designed to house varying sizes and types of RO machines. With each machine, the same simplified user experience is provided with a front accessible interface.
