A high tech medical device company specializing in the field of digital medical imaging hired Performance Composites to help with the design, tooling and production of their new skin imaging booth. The imaging booth enables physicians to detect, track and monitor critical skin changes (skin cancers, eczema, moles, psoriasis and rashes) to ensure the best healthcare outcomes for patients. It is an advanced medical technology that modernizes the way physicians visually capture and compare skin irregularities.
This project had many challenges. Performance Composites' engineering team worked with our customer to create a design that took into account aesthetics, patient comfort, light weight, ease of installation and durability. The imaging booth had to be aesthetically pleasing to make the patient feel at ease. The shape of the panels had to tactfully conceal all of the internal components while maintaining the look of a high-tech imaging booth. The panels had to be broken down into easily shippable pieces, and it also had to fit within the standard physician office doors as well as clear the lowest possible office ceiling heights. To facilitate mounting and attachment to the frame, various standoffs and inserts were integrated in the panel to hide all of the mounting hardware. In addition, the panels had to be resistant to abrasion and cleaning solvents and needed a target lifetime of 10 years with heavy use. Finally, the panels had to be light weight so that one person could lift and assemble the panel alone.
The Performance Composites engineering team helped our customer create a design composed of eight panels that all shared the same curvature to reduce the tooling cost. The final design was a sandwich of composite skin and foam core that met all of the requirements. It is one of the most aesthetically pleasing booths in the industry that meets cost targets. Performance Composites fabricated all of the molds, fixtures and parts including all of the final hardware integration, paint, and decals at our Compton, CA facility.