National Biological identified an opportunity to produce a handheld product that would make skin disorder treatment less invasive and more comfortable for patients.
The client is a manufacturer of phototherapy devices for the medical industry and the consumer market.
Handheld phototherapy devices are produced abroad and are limited to a single lamp emitting UVB light.
The work consisted in identifying the user needs through available research from National Biological and creating a product configuration that would ease the treatment. At the same time, it made the product more accessible and easy to carry for patients.
A better experience Certain types of skin disorders require UV Phototherapy treatments that work by exposing the skin to specific segments of UV light. UV Phototherapy treatments are painless yet require the patient to either stay still in front of a lamp or have a portable device placed nearby. Only the affected areas are exposed. A doctor prescribes the form of ultraviolet light, such as UVA, UVB, or narrowband UVB light, as well as the length of phototherapy exposure time, number of sessions, and frequency of sessions.
Project goals
The objective was to design an improved UV Phototherapy device with additional features and benefits to be used at the doctor’s office and for the patient to administer treatment in the comfort of their home. The challenge resided in creating a safe, convenient, and efficient product within a reduced envelope that eased the treatment experience.
The design intent was to create a nonintimidating product for the patient to carry conveniently, particularly when away from the doctor’s office. Portable and lightweight, the product had to be simple to set up, use, clean, and store away at home or during a trip. The emotional product attributes would have to be captured in a non-intimidating soft shape, preferably with a collapsible handle to minimize overall size.
Safety and Convenience
The design of the product focused on safety and convenience. A flip-open handle reduced the overall storage size while providing maximum comfort for treatment. An under-mounted comb facilitated the treatment of scalp skin disorders by serving as a spacer between the product and the patient’s head.
A significant product differentiator, the product uses a dual-lamp (9W+9W) package that increases the output for localized treatment while reducing the application periods. The product is molded in ABS and Acrylic with a minimum number of components. Off-the-shelf components (lamp socket, switch, hinge) were used to minimize manufacturing investment.
