Augmented Reality Aided Medical Device Design

Blurring the line between the physical and digital environment, augmented reality (AR) is the next frontier for medical device design. It is particularly useful as a means for rapid concept visualization and iterative refinement. By selectively mixing AR and physical prototypes, designers can conduct haptic evaluation alongside visual assessment. The integration of AR and traditional tools during development continues the practice of advancing design methods in parallel with technology. This paper explains the design of a mobile medical device/workstation using an AR aided medical device design process from an industry perspective. This case study demonstrates the viability and benefits of an AR aided design process pairing off-the-shelf AR technology with physical models of increasing fidelity. AR aided medical device design helps design teams accelerate development, lower prototyping costs, assess scaled designs earlier, illustrate contextual constraints, and reduce development risk.