Protecting the Brain

NeuroproteXeon XENEX™ Delivery System (XDS)

Project Includes:

NeuroproteXeon is on a mission to help safeguard the brains of Post Cardiac Arrest Syndrome (PCAS) patients. They enlisted Kaleidoscope Innovation to assist them in developing the commercial unit of a unique ventilator that uses xenon gas to help reduce brain cell degeneration in hospital cardiac arrest patients. Kaleidoscope provided services spanning the full user-centered product development spectrum, including research and insights, human factors and ergonomics, industrial design, user experience design, engineering, software development, visualization and project management.

The Challenge

Charting New Territory

Kaleidoscope’s role involved helping design and develop the commercial xenon ventilation unit. One of the primary challenges Kaleidoscope faced was that they needed to help design and develop this product where no predicate device exists. Ventilators exist, but this is more than just a ventilator. Xenon therapy exists, but it is not done in this way. Along these lines, the device needed to be able to circulate xenon gas, which is much heavier than the gases in a standard ventilator.

The Services

Development from
the Ground Up

This project utilized services from Kaleidoscope ranging the full product development spectrum, all of which centered on the user. Teams from every department were involved, spanning research & insights, human factors and ergonomics, industrial design, user experience design, engineering, software development, visualization and project management.

User-Centered Approach

Kaleidoscope researchers observed a ventilator cart to study usability challenges. The team also helped develop the user groups and user needs, enabling our designers to create concepts of various proportions, screen arrangements and handle positions. On top of that, the team engaged in usability explorations concerning hose management and tank access. Kaleidoscope’s design and engineering teams collaborated with the client to make the proportions feasible, with constant rebalancing of usability, engineering and design feasibility throughout. The team later developed a full-size, accurate-weight, highly interactive prototype they used in research.

The Product

XENEX™ Delivery System (XDS)

The device, called The XENEX™ Delivery System (XDS), delivers XENEX™ into a patented closed-breathing inhalation system consisting of a proprietary gas controller, consumable circuit, ventilator and a patient monitor. The intent is for this to be used in a hospital setting.

The Result

System Built for Users

Kaleidoscope explored a large variety of ideas, eventually narrowing down to a few concepts that they then developed into full-scale models and renderings. The team helped define user groups and market needs, and explored important human factors and usability considerations. Research done by Kaleidoscope for NeuroproteXeon’s target markets in both the United States and Europe revealed key differences in user needs between the two countries, which helped inform key design changes. The team also incorporated a cohesive user interface merging new and existing technologies. NeuroproteXeon is looking forward to launching the XENEX™ Delivery System (XDS) that could potentially provide life-saving benefits to patients suffering from Post Cardiac Arrest Syndrome.

Protecting the Brain