Front-edge technology and the human body
The design
shall enhance
the product. And we
want it to show that we
have put in an effort in
the product design. A
product that feels, and
is, reliable is good for
the customers, and
good for the marketing
Around the world, all year around, there are people
willing to give their blood to help others, suffering
from serious diseases. As leukaemia or aplastic
anaemia. Or from any other complaints, which
need a surgery and a blood transfusion. These
people, the blood donors, are saving lives – and
so does the products that Conroy provides.
This is a success story, and it will include both
blood and sweat. There will also be lots of joy,
laughter, hard work, and not to mention award
winning design. But what about the tears?
Well, they will most likely belong to Conroy's
competitors.
Conroy is a world leading company operating
in a very special field of the medical market;
hermetic sealing for blood handling.
They are providing innovative products and
technologies used for hermetic sealing of
collection, processing, storage and transfusion
of blood and blood components. A handling
that has to be done in a safety and efficient way,
as well as ergonomic friendly for the user.
Conroy – a lifesaver
It's very important that all blood handling is
hygienic and the blood is tested – to prevent
fatal diseases to spread – which also is the
main reason for a hermetic sealing of the tubes
and blood packs. It is also important that the
tube sealer is mobile. And small.
Per Jansson, founder and Technical Manager
of Conroy, explains:
“In Europe for example, it is common with
mobile blood donor centres – close to peoples
workplaces or place of residences – where you
need to set up all equipment needed.”
There are also very complicated regulations
and tough requirements on medical equipment.
Technical challenge
The new Tube Sealer product that Conroy is
launching, is as small and mobile as it can be.
The base unit size is about 10"x6"x3" and that
will also include the power supply and cooling!
The size, and the technical specification –
combined with the strict medical requirements
always surrounding medical equipment – was a
tough challenge (and a spur!) – for Powerbox in
the development of a new power supply unit.
Fortunately, Powerbox has a long history and
experience of working with medical related
products and are familiar with the different
directives in both EU and elsewhere. And custom
design is one of their well-known strengths.
The most challenging part, however, has been
the low current load. Combined with the fact
that the Tube Sealer is hand held by the hospital
personnel.
All electric appliances have leakage currents,
and to prevent and minimize the risk of electric
shocks for the persons handling the Tube Sealer,
these leakage currents has to be extremely low.
At the same time, the Tube Sealer has to be
able to work with power levels ranging between
200W up to 400W.
And last but not least, the new Tube Sealer
needs to be small which calls for new and
innovative ideas of the design – for the tube
sealer product, as well as the built-in power
supply, and cooling.
Award winning design
The idea of having an industry designer involved
in the product design from the start is today a
matter of course for Conroy and Per Jansson.
Even his business card is designed, in a modern,
plastic material – and it definitely communicates
Conroy's products in an effective way.
“The design shall enhance the product. And
we want it to show that we have put in an effort
in the product design. A product that feels, and
is, reliable is good for the customers, and good
for the marketing”, says Per Jansson.
And it has payed off. Conroy and the Tube
Sealer has been awarded twice for its design;
“Excellent Swedish Design” in 1999 by the
Swedish Form organization, and in 2003 by
German “Red Dot”.
Not to mention the satisfaction among the
hospital personnel. The tube sealer is operated
by a user-friendly, automatic, one-touch design
– and at the same time the blood handling is
quality secured.
Can you imagine, the Red Cross in New York
only, does some 2 billion seals every 24 hrs?!
Once upon a time
I must admit, that maybe it's not the image of a
world leading company that cross my mind
when driving up in front of a small, yellow wood
house in Upplands Väsby, 30 min north of
Stockholm. But it has definitely awakened my
curiosity, about the company and the people
behind Conroy.
Per Jansson tells us about the story of Conroy.
In the early 90's, Per Jansson and Olle
Bergman, co-founder and CEO, decided to start
their own business. And they wanted to focus
on a special niche of medical technology they
used to work with as employees.
Said and done. It only took them 3 months to
be a market leader in the US, with 70% market
share! Today, they still have some 50% of the
US market, and Conroy's customers are present
in some 155 countries.
Conroy employs 15 people, working with
product development and production, sales and
marketing on an international scale. All managed
and operated from the little yellow house in
Upplands Väsby in Stockholm, Sweden.
No free ride
The co-operation with Powerbox is almost as
old as Conroy, since 1995. But a long cooperation
is no ticket to a free ride.
for the tender, when it was time for developing
the new Tube Sealer product. What made
Conroy to chose Powerbox this time? Per
Jansson says:
“Powerbox has an extensive experience of
custom design power, and they really understood
what kind of technical solution we where looking
for. I also think we are just about the right size for
each other – which makes us a prioritized customer
for Powerbox, not too small, not too big”.
He adds: “And Powerbox also has a well
functioned quality system, in reality, not just
on paper”.
- Input voltage 100-240VAC (±10%).
- Output 1: 48VDC (±5%) @ 4A, 8A
output current during 20ms. Output will
decrease to minimum 40VDC. Ripple
noise 50mV.
Output 2: 12VDC (±5%) @ 0,75A.
Ripple noise 50mV.
- All output short circuit proof, auto reset.
- Thermal protection built in, shuts down
operation reset.
- Certified against EN60601 (certification
made on system level).
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