Background

Quantum is an automated platform designed to simplify the open, labor-intensive tasks associated with manual cell culture. Through this enhancements project the device will receive updated electro-mechanical components, new display computer, and GUI refresh.

Process

Whiteboard session

We did iterations to provide task customization on device with new Qt framework. The device typically has multi-day process where run-screen serves as a single point of reference. We reworked Terumo’s accessible color pallete especially for this.

Design choices

It became clear that the system uses several pre-defined tasks that can be customized on device. For the design revision, majority of task / steps creation process was ported to a separate cell processing application.

Modular Components
To solve string expansion, repond to user entries, and device states, we spent more time on modular components. Using Qt’s Sketch Plugin, we were able to export ui.qml files for the developement team. This ensured there’s little loss while translating design intent into development.

Common Components for Cell Therapy Devices
Protocol configuration layout was part of common component for similar projects strategy. We had to update few components for this device’s resistive display.

Localization

Terumo devices get localized into various languages including EMEA, CJK etc. We worked with l10n team closely to avoid any issues leaking into development.

the update offered more space for string expansion within a compact layout

Formative testing

We took the finished version of the GUI and ran it on the device’s resistive display to test viewing angle, color reproduction, and touch responsiveness. This was valuable both to design, and development team.

Initial version for enhancements was targeted at capacitive display but increased cost in tooling required to update display mounting changed the tech back to resistive type

The project is in active development phase and will ship to preferred customers in December 2020.