MD6 System
The MD6 System is a family of instruments well suited to a wide variety of vascular diagnostic testing. The System allows you to perform complete peripheral vascular exams, while being small enough to easily carry it with you. The MD6 System components are separate and compatible so the System can be scaled to meet your needs. The MD6VR prints real-time waveforms from any of the instruments.
MD6 is a compact, convenient pocket Doppler. The high quality audio signal uses Dynamic Noise Reduction (DNR®) and is easy to hear, even in a noisy room.
Client
D.E. Hokanson develops medical diagnostic systems used in clinical and research environments. The MD6 Doppler System is a precision medical device that depends on reliable electronics and sensor integration to ensure accurate physiological measurements.
The Challenge
A number of MD6 systems were experiencing main board failures, resulting in reduced reliability and increased service and replacement costs. In addition, the existing phototransducer main board design presented mechanical fit challenges and relied on components that were becoming difficult to source. The client required a clear root-cause analysis and a robust redesign that would improve reliability while maintaining compatibility with the existing system.
Our Solution
Firstage Engineering investigated the failed MD6 main boards to identify the underlying causes of failure and prepared a detailed root-cause analysis. Based on these findings, we proposed targeted design improvements. We also redesigned the phototransducer main board to enhance reliability, improve mechanical fit within the enclosure, and accommodate updated replacement components. The redesigned board was developed with manufacturability and long-term serviceability in mind.
Outcome
Following implementation of the redesigned boards, the MD6 system experienced a significant reduction in failure rates. The updated phototransducer boards fit more cleanly within the enclosure and successfully incorporated the new replacement components, improving overall system reliability and ease of maintenance.
