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We can use our knowledge of how people interact with medical devices to make consumer products that are easier to use.
Normatec is a leader in rapid recovery following exercise with a range of dynamic recovery devices using compressed air and pulsation. Founded by a MD, PhD, and with input from top pro athletes and sports medicine professionals, we’re proud to say we have helped them to develop a number of their products.
Normatec Recovery Devices use compressed air to fill their wearable compression devices with multiple chambers that surround your arms, legs or hips. These compression devices massage your limbs with a series of pulses and squeezes to enhance lymphatic drainage throughout your body following exercise for faster recovery and recuperation following intense exertion.
The main control unit contains a computer, control panel, batteries, pump and valves. It needs to be lightweight, and durable, to be ready to use on the field, or in the gym, straight after exercise. Connected to this via a custom quick release pneumatic coupling are the compression devices, for legs, hips or shoulders.
Normatec was an exciting client to work with, and their team knew exactly what they wanted to achieve at the start of the project. We were able to help them with the boldest change to their product line, making the product truly portable and appealing, while also being able to be produced in larger numbers than their current device.
Previous versions of the Normatec device were large, and not easy to transport. Normatec wanted their new device to be easy to use just before and after exercise, and knew that they would need a much smaller device.
We worked closely with their engineering team to identify pumps and valves that could fit into a much smaller enclosure and still meet their performance requirements.
This was also their first device to have a screen for controlling the strength and duration of the treatment. To meet their cost requirements on the more popular device we used a custom LCD panel to get the best user interface possible, and used a touch panel for their high end MVP product. Both panels fit into the same molded enclosure. The enclosure also needed to be splash proof, but allow adequate air flow for the pumps.
We also designed a new pneumatic connector for them that would be leak proof, easy to connect and disconnect with one hand, and not accidentally disconnect when flexed to extreme angles.
Finally everything needed to be rugged enough to not break when dropped at the gym.
