When Enexor’s upper management decided to pivot rapidly to design and manufacture an emergency ventilator in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was tasked with planning, designing, and developing the touchscreen interface for the ventilator, known as the X-VENT. This was an extremely challenging yet highly rewarding project that required me to learn an entirely new suite of programming tools and collaborate closely with the engineering team to develop the graphical interface simultaneously as the microprocessor logic was being programmed. The task demanded overcoming a steep learning curve, delivering on tight deadlines, and communicating with utmost precision.
- Design and Develop Touchscreen Interface: Create a user-friendly and reliable touchscreen interface for the X-VENT ventilator.
- Rapid Skill Acquisition: Quickly learn new software, programming languages, and rapid development methodologies.
- Understand Medical Industry Requirements: Acquire knowledge of medical terminology, design elements, and device capabilities pertinent to ventilator technology.
As the sole person assigned to develop the interface, I collaborated extensively with colleagues across various company functions to deliver the final product:
- Software Mastery: Quickly dove into learning the programming software by collaborating with our industry partner and HMI manufacturer, Schneider Electric. This involved understanding a variation of the Java programming language specific to the hardware.
- Simultaneous Development: Worked alongside the engineering team to coordinate device functionality while they developed the microprocessor logic.
- Design Collaboration: Partnered with the marketing and design team to create meaningful and easy-to-use graphics, ensuring the interface was intuitive for medical professionals.
- Meeting Rigorous Deadlines: Managed time effectively to meet the strict deadlines set by upper management for the product launch, often putting in overtime to ensure milestones were achieved.
Challenges
- Steep Learning Curve: Needed to rapidly learn new programming tools and medical industry concepts without formal training.
- Simultaneous Multi-Team Coordination: Had to ensure that the touchscreen interface aligned perfectly with the microprocessor logic being developed concurrently by another team.
- Extreme Deadlines: Operated under intense time pressure due to the urgent global need for ventilators.
- Precision Communication: Required clear and precise communication across multiple teams to prevent any misunderstandings that could delay the project.
Solutions and Achievements
- Rapid Skill Acquisition: Successfully mastered the new programming software and language in a short time frame, enabling me to begin development promptly.
- Effective Collaboration: Maintained close coordination with engineering, marketing, and design teams to ensure all components of the ventilator functioned seamlessly together.
- Timely Delivery: Met all critical deadlines, contributing to the timely launch of the X-VENT ventilator.
- Real-World Impact: The touchscreen interface I developed is currently deployed on the X-VENT ventilator and is actively helping to save lives during the pandemic.
Despite the numerous challenges, the project was a significant success. The X-VENT ventilator was brought to production with a functional and intuitive touchscreen interface. My contributions were essential in getting the product ready for deployment during a critical time. The experience not only allowed me to expand my technical skills but also to make a meaningful impact during a global health crisis.
By embracing rapid learning and demonstrating adaptability, I delivered a crucial component of a life-saving medical device under extreme deadlines. This project showcased my ability to overcome challenges, collaborate effectively across teams, and contribute significantly to a mission-critical initiative.
- Client Enexor Health Systems
- Date 10 July 2020