Illuminating the Need for Miniaturization with a Global AED Manufacturer
OOONO Medical A/S, a Danish tech startup, has been on a mission to create the world’s smallest and most intuitive Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Through their partnership with our team and our medical device light guide technology, they achieved their goal! Read on to learn more about this new, life-saving device.
The Opportunity
According to OOONO Medical A/S CEO Jacob Løth Christensen, Denmark has long been at the forefront of improving survival rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCAs) through widespread CPR training and fast response programs. However, existing AEDs on the market have been bulky, expensive, and not intuitive to use. This limits their accessibility and effectiveness in emergencies, where mere seconds can make a difference between life and death.
This customer’s ambition was to develop the world’s smallest AED that could be easily stored in private homes, carried on trips, and used quickly in emergencies. The key objectives were miniaturizing the device to enhance portability and ease of use while ensuring it met stringent safety and performance standards. Due to the need for miniaturization, our engineers knew they would have to use as few LEDs as possible while achieving clear and crisp illumination for the end user.
This would not only increase the number of AEDs in the community but also significantly improve the chances of saving lives. After many attempts to innovate in-house, OOONO Medical A/S searched for a capable medical device light guide partner. They connected with Global Lighting Technologies through FORCE Technology, a local Danish testing institute. Our team quickly mobilized to bring this vision to life.
The Solution: A Custom Medical Device Light Guide
The collaborative process began with defining product requirements and design specifications. OOONO Medical A/S had a clear vision but needed my team’s expertise to realize it.
After initial briefings and discussions, our first prototype was an ‘aha moment’ for this customer.
“We had a good idea about what we wanted from our own work, but needed input on how to do it. We had a briefing [with] GLT about our needs and challenges. [They] came up with recommendations and made an early mockup, then a more detailed prototype,” Christensen said, “The fact that [it] was quite close to what we wanted after we tried to achieve it internally for more than a year was quite fascinating.”
After prototyping, it was time to move the light guide into production. For this application, we used a dual-shot injection molding process, achieving a final thickness of 1.0 mm. Manufactured at Global Lighting Technologies’ facility in Taiwan, the light guide features 11 discrete areas, each capable of individual or grouped illumination. These areas, varying in size and location, are designed to maintain consistent brightness levels, ensuring clear and reliable user communication. The custom optical pattern enables the AED to provide critical information with precision, enhancing user interaction and device functionality.
Throughout the process, both teams worked seamlessly together. Christensen noted that our flexibility and responsiveness were crucial in overcoming challenges.
The Results
Though specifics on size and results are confidential, the final product promises to be the smallest CE-approved AED in the world. This new AED will significantly enhance accessibility, increasing the number of lives saved when SCAs strike. The response to the potential new product has been overwhelmingly positive, with excitement about its commercial potential and market disruption capabilities.
Christensen expressed a strong willingness to partner with our team on future projects, saying, “Yes, we would work with GLT again and recommend them to others! [The] biggest benefits are undoubtedly the clear expertise within their field and their professionalism.”
Lighting the Way Forward with a Custom Medical Device Light Guide
The development of this innovative AED underscores the critical role of custom medical device light guides in advancing medical technology. By partnering with Global Lighting Technologies, OOONO Medical A/S achieved a groundbreaking product that stands to save countless lives. Are you ready to bring an innovative product to market? Connect with our team to share your bright idea and explore its possibilities.