Mandate
Design the covers of a mechanical respirator while considering the constraints of Health Canada approvals and use in intensive care units.
Objectives
CAE, world leader in aviation and healthcare simulation solutions, committed to producing a life-saving ventilator for patients with COVID-19. When they asked us to join them in this fast-paced project, we responded. Our ability to innovate and our experience in medical equipment design were the entry points to this unique and unprecedented opportunity. In a very short time frame dictated by the global emergency, our mission was to design the respirator while considering the constraints of Health Canada's approvals and use in intensive care units.
Services
- User study
- Competition study
- Trend study
- Design vision
- Storyboards
- Product architecture
- Ergonomics
- Concept generation
- 3D Concept modeling
- Design for manufacturing
- Color, material & finish
- Graphic design
- Production development
- Photorealistic 3D rendering
Approach
With over 500 employees in 45 different departments at CAE, this project benefited from our agility and expertise in ergonomics and manufacturing processes. Our pragmatic approach and our rigor led us to implement the necessary strategies to quickly put the product into production, by identifying the processes, materials and supplies available locally.
After completing the development phase, we remained involved throughout the optimization of the production steps in order to preserve the initial intent by managing each constraint to the advantage of the project.
Results
Platinum winner of the Grand Prix du Design 2021, this project demonstrates the importance of our expertise in industrial design in contributing to a better and more responsible world. The Air1 mechanical ventilator legitimizes CAE's position in the medical equipment sector. Entirely designed and manufactured in Canada, it enables the entire country to strengthen its self-sufficiency in the medical field. From certification to manufacturing to delivery in record time, the Air1 ventilator is now saving thousands of lives.