Methodical product development in medical engineering—A case study on radiography systems

Abstract

To create unique selling points in the competitive market of medical radiography systems, systematic approaches for the development are required. In a case study, standard procedures from academia were adapted to the situation of the industry partner. Starting from a requirements list, a relation-oriented function modelling was built to develop concepts with morphological boxes, which were evaluated by a weighted average method. This lead to the elaboration of CAD-based drafts in order to enable more detailed ratings. The methodical approach results in the identification of redundant bearing parts in the floor attachment, the removal of which does not cause any violation of the safety regulations of medical products. A verification with finite element software proved the applicability of the concepts. This example demonstrates that in a situation of highly developed predecessors and a limited design space, a methodical approach can identify improvement possibilities, which leads to innovations and cost advantages.