Medical procedure chair: Design the doctor ordered

Oscar Furniture is a leading manufacturer in the lift assist chair market in Victoria, and is known for its innovative approach to developing products for people with special needs.

Having previously developed a medical procedure chair prototype for the healthcare industry, Oscar recognised they required assistance with the functionality and marketability of the design.

Oscar approached Design Victoria to undertake the role of facilitator, involved firstly with helping to select a design agency with appropriate skills and experience. Ideation was chosen for its past experience designing for the healthcare industry, and its ability to globally market products with an innovative and contemporary edge.

Other elements of the facilitating role were to ensure the client’s expectations were understood and managed throughout the process.

Ideation said of the importance of a facilitator: ‘The role of the facilitator in this process was vital, in particular, keeping the project on track.’

Ideation undertook a questionnaire and interview process of health care workers, and used the existing prototype as a starting point for feedback. This research provided pivotal data in building the design.

Issues such as height-adjustability and mobility for both the chair and the patient were of crucial importance.

Oscar Furniture and Ideation Design - sketches of chair concepts

Initial CAD drawings were developed to form a ‘skeleton’ from which the designers could build upon, followed by freeform renderings to demonstrate just some of the aesthetic possibilities.

Design hurdles included issues with the foot rest, developing a ‘single-actuator’ system that would be weight-bearing. It was also important to achieve an overall smooth surface, as ease of cleaning was high on the health care workers’ agenda.

The client had wanted to achieve full-reclinability; a difficult feature that was met, much to Oscar’s delight. When extended into a bed, it is a full six feet in length, which is a great achievement considering the weight it will be bearing.

Receiving photo-quality renderings of the chair, Oscar’s expectations of the end result were exceeded.

Oscar Furniture and Ideation Design - CAD chair concepts: Chair reclining and flat

‘The end product from Ideation looks great. When we go to market with the chair, I believe we will have appeal globally. It will lift the company to a new level as a world class manufacturer.’

Facts at a glance

Challenge

To redesign an existing medical procedure chair prototype, to reach a high level of functionality and global marketability.

Type of designer engaged

An industrial designer with proven expertise in the medical, healthcare and nursery industries.

Most important part of the immersion process

Gaining an accomplished design perspective to expand upon the client’s existing elements.

Most difficult part of the immersion process

Consolidating elements of the foot rest presented the greatest challenge from a design perspective.

Solution

In consultation with the client, the designer developed a single actuator, (rather than the usual double) that would allow the foot rest to still function at its best, whilst reducing materials.

Outcome

A finely developed chair design, supported by series of photo-quality renderings and CAD drawings. The renderings have real market value, and have already aroused interest from prospective retailers, manufacturers and end-users. A prototype is the next phase of the product’s development.

Click here to download the full Oscar Furniture/Ideation Business Immersion Case Study.