Product Design Portfolio

What It Is:

A surgical control panel for Ion, a robotic assisted surgical platform for peripheral lung biopsy. The system features an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung to perform minimally invasive biopsies.

How it Works:

This incredibly cool surgical tool uses software to read a patient’s CT lung scan in order to create a navigation pathway that allows physicians to reach far into the lung through small and difficult-to-navigate airways and reach all 18 segments of the lung. Once a pathway has been designated, it is exported to a USB flash drive which is then inserted into Ion’s controller to complete the biopsy. The controller uses hand-controlled navigation to control the catheter and complete the journey to the designated biopsy area.

Why Ion Chose Timberline:

Ion had the technology but needed a partner that could help them bring everything together in a seamless package. The company selected Timberline because of our extensive experience with industrial and injection mold design, as well as our design validation and test expertise.

What Timberline Did:

Timberline first put our industrial design chops to use to create a controller that could provide a high level of user control with minimal distraction. We selected a hand-controlled navigation scroll wheel to allow the operator to easily navigate the designated path as well as a navigation ball that provided movement within a 180 degree range.

This included the design of an injection mold to create the controller’s outside panels and provide an elegant and modern look. Finally, we provided electromechanical design and electronics integration within the enclosure.

The design included heat sinks and venting to manage heat during operation using natural convection, thereby negating the necessity of including a forced air system for ventilation. Thermal analysis was completed to ensure the design would operate as intended.

The Result:

The Intuitive Ion is available now for surgical professionals, and the response from medical professionals has been extremely positive, providing a high level of reach, stability, and precision for increased accuracy and minimal invasion for patients.

What It Is:

The service panel is used by flight attendants to control all in-flight electronics including doors, lighting, and passenger signs (buckle up!). These panels are often installed near the flight attendant’s seat for ease of access.

How it Works:

The panel acts as an interface for the main cabin management system, controlling all activities via a user-friendly control panel. Simplicity and ease of use are key considerations in the design of these panels.

Why Timberline Was Chosen:

Timberline was selected as the customer’s design partner because of our breadth of industrial and mechanical design expertise as well as our experience dealing with the regulatory requirements of the industry. The customer was also impressed with Timberline’s extensive design validation and test capabilities.

What Timberline Did:

Our team played an important role in nearly every aspect of the design of the service panels, from UX and industrial design to mechanical design and electronics integration. Once the design was completed, Timberline assisted with thermal testing, tooling validation, and supplier startup. 

The flight service panels required additional considerations due to the safety requirements of the aerospace industry. All design work was required to follow AS9100 requirements including additional documentation for all electronics and mechanical design. In addition, the products required extensive risk analysis to predict failure modes and mitigation of potential failures. This included a lot of additional environmental testing including temperature and vibration testing.

The Result:

The new flight service panels are currently being installed on a new line of aircraft slated for release in late 2020.

ECD came to Timberline for help designing a new generation of thermal profilers that would provide users with an updated look and slimmer design with best in class product features. Timberline was more than willing to help, developing several devices that would meet this need including the MEGA M.O.L.E. 20 and the SUPER M.O.L.E. Gold 20 profilers. Timberline provided new industrial design for the shape, graphics, and overall look of the thermal profilers as well as all of the mechanical design and electronics integration for the devices.

The partnership also included prototype testing, design validation, and engineering assistance during tooling development.

The result:

The ECD MEGA M.O.L.E. 20 has received worldwide award recognition including the 2008 New Product Introduction Award, the ITC Expo Innovative Technology Award, and the SMT China Vision Award.

Learn more about the MEGA M.O.L.E.

What It Is:

The jet fuel water detector tests for the amount of water molecules found in aviation jet fuel per ASTM D3240 test standard. Undissolved water in jet fuel can lead to a growth of microorganisms, corrosion in the aircraft tank, and ice formation in the fuel system which can lead to engine failure. The water detector is used in both military and commercial aviation.

How it Works:

The water detector is a highly complex system. To test, a measured sample of fuel is passed through a paper pad that is treated with sodium fluorescein. The pad is then compared with a fluorescing standard in ultraviolet light. Water droplets that are smaller than the eye can see cause the sodium fluorescein to fluoresce. The degree of fluorescence is greater for increasing amounts of water in the fuel.

A single, permanent fluorescing standard is positioned under a photographic-type iris diaphragm which can be opened or closed to increase or decrease the amount of ultraviolet light. To determine water content, the operator merely adjusts the diaphragm lever arm under the fluorescing standard and the test pad to show equal brightness in the ultraviolet light.

Why Timberline Was Selected:

Our experience with the highly regulated aerospace industry meant our aerospace customer knew we were equipped to deal with all design and regulatory challenges the products might face in their journey to the marketplace. In addition, our extensive design capabilities meant the company could combine our team with their own internal resources to complete the project successfully.

What We Did:

The Timberline team provided end to end support for the new product, including industrial design and user interface design for the tester and testing kit. Our team was also able to assist with mechanical design and electronics integration for the entire device.

The Result:

The testing kits are now available worldwide, ensuring the ongoing safety of our aircraft and passengers.

What It Is:

The IntelliPad RFID pad reader is an indispensable component of the GSL IntelliSys product line. The reader can be positioned anywhere in the pharmacy to manage prescription tracking without restricting or reducing work space.

How it Works: 

Using close proximity RFID technology, the new IntelliPad “reads” IntelliSys SmartBaskets. These are uniquely identified baskets with locking lids to provide real-time, hands-free tracking throughout the pharmacy.

Why GSL Chose Timberline:

Following the success of the first generation IntelliCab prescription storage system, GSL knew Timberline had the skills and experience to tackle the next generation of the product line and further enhance the user experience of the products. This included a more modular design approach to provide added flexibility in the systems’ configuration. It also meant new features for the IntelliPad pad reader.

What Timberline Did:

Impressed with Timberline’s industrial, mechanical, and electronic design of the original IntelliCab systems, GSL again selected Timberline to assist with the next generation of IntelliSys products. Because GSL was familiar with our project management expertise, we were also tasked with managing the project and its many partners, in addition to providing mechanical design of the IntelliPad RFID pad readers and the integration of the products’ sophisticated electronics. 

The new version of the IntelliPad included a USB connection for added flexibility of placement in the lab. New lights and sounds were also added to provide helpful operational cues for users.  

The Result:

The new IntelliSys products have proven hugely popular for pharmacists and technicians. It is the system of choice for huge pharmaceutical groups including Kaiser Permanente, Safeway, OHSU, and many others.
 

Bodelin engaged Timberline to not only provide design support with updated ergonomics and proprietary electronics (including an optical chip) but also to help them prepare for high volume manufacturing with a local supplier base. Timberline’s experienced project management expertise made the transition a smooth one from concept design to production startup.

The Timberline team provided industrial design and injection molding design of the handheld ProScope HR2 as well as additional guidance during materials selection and production startup, including engineering tooling development and validation testing.

The Result:

The results have been nothing short of amazing. The ProScope HR2 has been out in the market for the past five years, where it has received tremendous praise throughout the market, including a 5-star product rating from PC World Magazine.

Learn more about the Bodelin ProScope HR2.