Breas Medical
A breath of fresh air
Known for its innovative respiratory devices, Breas Medical turned to ICS to create an intuitive user interface for its latest product.
Breas Medical Gets Modern Interface for Next-Gen Ventilator
Looking to create the best user experience (UX) for its new NIPPY4 ventilation devices, Sweden’s Breas Medical asked Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. (ICS) for an assist. The goal was to completely revamp a decade-old NIPPY (or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation) device that had a bare-bones user interface (UI) and was built on now-outdated tech.
NIPPY works by blowing air into the lungs until a pre-set airway pressure is reached to assist breathing. Breas’ NIPPY ventilators can be used for a wide variety of respiratory conditions and muscle disorders, both to support breathing and if needed, to entirely breathe for a patient.
Why choose ICS? Breas planned to use Qt-based code as the foundation of a modern UI but had only limited Qt experience. As the largest independent source of Qt expertise in North America, ICS was the logical choice. Plus, our Boston UX division specializes in designing compelling user experiences specifically for medical and other high-impact devices.
The Challenge
ICS excels at using Qt for development but restrictions on the new code made this project quite challenging. The existing code was written specifically for the UI developed for Breas’ legacy product and couldn’t easily accommodate the more modern design the company sought for its new device. Other challenges: the existing UX design in several areas was undefined or incomplete, something ICS would need to address; and Breas’ platform did not support QML so ICS also needed to find creative ways to use Qt Widgets.
"Our NIPPY3 device, on which the new device is based, was out of date and had an older user interface. We asked ICS for a more informative display featuring appealing, easy-to-read graphs and an array of settings, including alarms and messages, that would communicate critical details to users."
The Solution
To understand precisely what Breas was looking for in terms of interface design, ICS worked closely with the device-maker’s in-house team, presenting mockups and more-refined prototypes at multiple points during the development process. This iterative, problem-solving approach allowed Breas to clearly express what they were looking for so the entire team was on the same page.
The Result
Armed with detailed information on Breas’ requirements and design preferences, the ICS team developed and delivered a modern, easy-to-use touch interface for the initial version of the lifesaving device (aimed at patients who can breathe on their own but need extra support). Breas is now readying it for market following extensive verification and validation user testing. A second version, for patients who can’t breathe on their own, will follow shortly thereafter.
Both versions of the new NIPPY4 feature a large, color LCD display that clearly shows all settings; comprehensive alarms with easily understood on-screen messages; on-screen compliance data; a full event log, which can be downloaded to a PC; and many other key features.
"Working with ICS was a great experience," Krishnamachari said. "Their Qt competence is exceptional. Plus, they were very responsive and gave us a number of options so we could create a device perfectly in tune with our market."
About Breas
Breas Medical has provided innovative respiratory medical device products to the global market for more than 25 years, offering a comprehensive line of respiratory medical devices from homecare life support ventilation to CPAP devices.