Diagnostics and Imaging
In the wake of the pandemic, our collective awareness of the critical role for diagnostics in disease detection, prevention and management is arguably greater than ever. This awareness has further stimulated exciting opportunities for innovation, for example through the use of technologies that widen access and change patient pathways. New technologies are helping to bring more diagnostic tests ever closer to the patient, enabling faster and more efficient testing, and improving the quality and accessibility of data. How we identify, harness and present these technologies to users is critical in achieving successful uptake and outcomes.
At DCA, we understand the importance of bringing experienced design and development disciplines together to successfully address such challenges. Our engineering teams are expert at designing and developing diagnostic and connected technologies that function optimally and are efficient to manufacture, whilst our human factors and industrial design specialists bring world-class capabilities in creating products that are engaging and easy to use. Whether your diagnostics or imaging technology is intended for laboratory, hospital, primary care or self-testing, our integrated multidisciplinary approach can support you in developing a commercially successful product that can make a real difference for patients and healthcare providers.
Early and accurate diagnosis of medical conditions is critical to improving outcomes for patients and reducing burdens for healthcare providers
Self-testing
With new opportunities being driven partly by the growth of individuals’ interest in managing their own health and wellbeing, the scope and scale of self-testing is expected to continue to increase rapidly. New, low-cost and low energy communications technologies are also a game changer in this market, allowing patients to capture, monitor and share diagnostic data with their HCP via smartphone apps. This is all helping to drive innovation and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare provision.
Whilst encouraging patients to monitor their own health can be a very positive thing, achieving this in practice is not always straightforward. The design of effective self-test devices brings very different challenges to that of the development of diagnostics equipment for professional users. Although cost efficiency is highly important when targeting large scale take up of self-test devices, key to ultimate success is ensuring the creation of an intuitive and reassuring user experience to achieve accurate results and good compliance.
DCA brings significant experience in the development of handheld and body worn medical devices, many of which are successfully manufactured in very high volumes. We also have exceptionally strong expertise in the development of low-cost and low power connected devices for both medical and consumer applications.
Point-of-care testing
Effective point-of-care testing (POCT) solutions must provide healthcare practitioners with accurate, relevant data within minutes, informing decisions as part of a patient consultation. They must also be easy to set up and operate, convenient, small and hygienic.
The development of POCT devices typically requires a detailed understanding of complex systems engineering, including aspects such as technology miniaturisation, sensor use, optics, power management, connectivity, sample collection, sterility, cleaning, calibration and maintenance.
With decades of experience across our multidisciplinary teams, we offer comprehensive expertise to help clients successfully navigate the many challenges of developing new POCT products or further improving existing devices.
Imaging systems
DCA has significant experience in supporting clients with the development of healthcare critical imaging systems for professional use in hospitals and specialist clinics.
The innovative Unity MR-linac system DCA supported Elekta in developing, allows accurate location of tumours during the treatment session, providing a clearer understanding of the location and extent of a tumour, allowing more efficient and accurate treatment, greater throughput and for some cancer cases to be treated with radiotherapy that were previously not viable.
Our brief from Elekta was to create a technically-grounded, evidence-based design vision to inspire and direct the development of this revolutionary product. The output is an excellent example of the value of our multidisciplinary approach to complex systems design, drawing on the skills from research, human factors, design and engineering to ensure that the concept was informed, inspirational and technically feasible. This resulted in a detailed, technically grounded concept that provided the foundation for the development of the clinical system. Unity is a globally successful system that has won numerous major awards, recognising the innovation and effectiveness of the design and the underlying usability work.
Elekta Unity is the world’s first combined magnetic resonance imaging and linear particle accelerator system
Laboratory testing
Whilst self and point-of-care diagnostics devices are replacing some tests that have traditionally been undertaken by technicians; hospital and laboratory-based imaging and in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) continue to play an important role in the detection of diseases and in particular rare and complex medical conditions.
DCA has a long track record in the design and development of specialist laboratory testing and imaging equipment. Our work in this area encompasses systems engineering, industrial design, design for manufacture, assembly and human factors.
Understanding workflows and potential sources for error is often critical when defining and developing these systems. From sample collection to preparation, measurement, display of results and their interpretation, our specialist human factors team have huge experience in helping to define and optimise the design of user interfaces for complex and safety critical applications.
Consumables and single-use diagnostics
Consumables are an important part of many diagnostic device systems, and single use devices are prominent in self-testing and point of care diagnostic applications.
As well as meeting primary needs for effectiveness and safety, many other factors become critical when developing devices and accessories that will be manufactured in high volume. These include design considerations for efficient and robust multi-cavity tooling, features to facilitate high-speed component sorting, handling and automated assembly, filling and packaging. Product costs must be kept appropriately low and increasingly there is an imperative to find solutions that are environmentally sustainable.
At DCA, we have vast experience of developing high volume products for medical, healthcare and consumer applications. We have supported concept creation, detailed design, testing, development and industrialisation of many sophisticated products for global markets that are produced in hundreds of millions or even billions per annum.
Systems engineering
A common theme across many diagnostics projects we undertake is the need to create elegant solutions to complex technical challenges. We have a proven track record of engineering innovation and excellence, including the development of ingenious mechanisms, finding simple solutions to complex assemblies and creating applications for novel technologies, all whilst developing robust and reliable mechanisms.
Our skills and experience include mechanics, fluidics, embedded microcontroller-based systems, analogue sensors, displays and processing, connectivity, precision motor drives, optoelectronics and signal processing / filtering.
Software development
Whether embedded or application software on various platforms, our software development service addresses the full spectrum of needs for the diagnostic and imaging industries. We relish software challenges ranging from early-stage prototypes through to final production-ready systems.
Under our ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certification, we have software development procedures for both medical and non-medical applications. Software for medical devices is developed according to our IEC 62304 and ISO 14971 aligned procedures.
Our software engineers are well versed in innovating advanced algorithms, signal processing, control and low-power communications systems, as well as meeting challenges such as integrating artificial intelligence. We are familiar with working within the constraints of low-cost miniature microprocessor architectures through to high-end sophisticated platforms.
IEC 62304 compliant medical device software development processes that address the needs of the diagnostic and imaging industries
Industrial design, usability and UX / UI
The users of diagnostics devices are a diverse range including patients, caregivers, health care professionals and laboratory technicians. Each group has a unique set of needs and sensitivities, which can vary widely between applications.
Drawing on our multi-disciplinary skills in industrial design, human factors engineering, digital design and software engineering we have a strong track record in understanding and addressing these needs. In doing this we have created solutions which help to reduce errors and produce engaging, efficient and successful user experiences.
Usability engineering is undertaken at DCA by our specialist usability and research team, who have broad experience of user research and analysis across a range of safety critical industries. This team undertakes both formative and summative usability studies for medical devices in compliance with EN 62366-1.
Featured
Helping our clients achieve success through great product design
