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Howard M. Tanner FRSA
Howard M. Tanner Portfolio
Working collaboratively I have had the greatest pleasure in creating the here catalogued product designs for the • Medical • Consumer • Commercial industries that have routinely been processed through the entire design cycle of program initialization-to-manufacturing release. The combined creativity, industry experience, knowledge of materials and processing technology of our group has enabled the serial development of these • practical • innovative • market leading • award winning • patented • successful product designs for our clients.
We look forward to aiding your discovery of relevant, adventurous answers to your design questions.
Aneurysm Repair-Suture System
Endo Vascular Associates, a medical device startup was established to develop a minimally invasive procedure and related hardware to treat Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA)…the 13th largest killer of US citizens…and to bring the resulting ‘system’ to market. Our consultancy was engaged to assist this effort. Collaborating with EVA’s peripheral vascular surgeon, H. Trout MD. and his associates we performed an expansive subject literature search re: causative disease process/pros-cons of current surgical approaches and observed surgeries. Our report detailed the • effectiveness/relevance of current treatment modalities • possible alternative approaches/technologies • windows of opportunity for an alternative approach.
Guided by these findings, consultancy led the program…project inception to successful FDA monitored animal trials…and in doing so discovered a unique, beneficial, patentable surgical approach and concurrently, related hardware solutions. A 2nd generation product development group continued the program’s advancement towards human trials.
Contributions:
Subject Matter Research • Concept Exploration • Technology Evaluation • Product Design/Visualizations/Documentation/ Prototyping/Evaluation • Development to FDA Trials • Material/ Processing/Finish Specification
Guided by these findings, consultancy led the program…project inception to successful FDA monitored animal trials…and in doing so discovered a unique, beneficial, patentable surgical approach and concurrently, related hardware solutions. A 2nd generation product development group continued the program’s advancement towards human trials.
Contributions:
Subject Matter Research • Concept Exploration • Technology Evaluation • Product Design/Visualizations/Documentation/ Prototyping/Evaluation • Development to FDA Trials • Material/ Processing/Finish Specification
Under-Sink Water Softener
Pentair, a global water treatment company develops purification technology that enables compact, high performance and convenient appliances.
Tasked to develop an under-sink water softener, our engineering/design team developed…inception to manufacturing-ready product…multiple concepts incorporating the following benefits and market leading features:
• revolutionary, easily replenished brine cartridges obsoleting the need for traditional bagged salt
• a transportable product capable of DIY installation and removal
• unique, high performance filter/filter cleansing system and disc-valve assembly
• simple to use control scheme
Contributions:
• Concept Exploration • Visualizations • Engineering/Design • Development & Testing (cartridge) • Design Refinement • Material, Processing/Finish Specification
Tasked to develop an under-sink water softener, our engineering/design team developed…inception to manufacturing-ready product…multiple concepts incorporating the following benefits and market leading features:
• revolutionary, easily replenished brine cartridges obsoleting the need for traditional bagged salt
• a transportable product capable of DIY installation and removal
• unique, high performance filter/filter cleansing system and disc-valve assembly
• simple to use control scheme
Contributions:
• Concept Exploration • Visualizations • Engineering/Design • Development & Testing (cartridge) • Design Refinement • Material, Processing/Finish Specification
Surgical Helmet
A sub-contractor to Zimmer, our review of existing surgical helmets indicated user comfort was not optimized in extant products. Our design concepts sought to improve the product’s human factors and capabilities while simultaneously resolving existing helmet detailing shortcomings. Our collaboration with the main contractor produced a well balanced, lightweight helmet in which:
• the solid crown of existing helmet products is replaced by a self venting lattice tructure similar to that of a racing bicycle helmet
• a centrifugal fan is positioned adjacent to the nape of the user’s neck (non-load) directs cooling air through molded-in channels to the head generally and to the helmet’s snap-on visor
• a chin strap incorporating strategically placed microphone and speaker elements and coolin vents, is snap fitted to the shell.
Contributions:
• Subject matter research • Concept Exploration • Product Design/Visualizations/ Documentation • Material/Processing/ Finish Specification
• the solid crown of existing helmet products is replaced by a self venting lattice tructure similar to that of a racing bicycle helmet
• a centrifugal fan is positioned adjacent to the nape of the user’s neck (non-load) directs cooling air through molded-in channels to the head generally and to the helmet’s snap-on visor
• a chin strap incorporating strategically placed microphone and speaker elements and coolin vents, is snap fitted to the shell.
Contributions:
• Subject matter research • Concept Exploration • Product Design/Visualizations/ Documentation • Material/Processing/ Finish Specification
Tattoo Removal System
Rejuvatec, specialists in the development of non-laser tattoo removal systems required updates to their current device. We were engaged to research/develop means to • remove the art/unique technical competence required for successful tattoo removal • shorten procedure set-up and performance times • improve technician comfort; significant carpel tunnel damage is experienced in the tattoo application industry. Collaborating with client, novel solutions were developed for each unique question area. A • less time consuming tattoo mapping/site cleansing method • more efficient tissue removing needle assembly • more comfortable/carpal-tunnel cancelling and snap on device handle were each documented, modelled and evaluated in on-human testing. These staged trials demonstrated successful outcomes for each individual product concept. The high performing needle component has entered successful manufacture.
Contributions:
Concept Generation • Hardware Design/Development/ Documentation/Functional Modelling/ Testing • Technology/ Vendor Research • Design/Visualizations/ Documentation/ Functional Modelling • On Human Testing • Rinse and Repeat • Material/Processing/Finish Specification
Contributions:
Concept Generation • Hardware Design/Development/ Documentation/Functional Modelling/ Testing • Technology/ Vendor Research • Design/Visualizations/ Documentation/ Functional Modelling • On Human Testing • Rinse and Repeat • Material/Processing/Finish Specification
Water Softener - Cartridge-Based
Pentair, a brand leading, global water treatment company continually develops new purification technology that enables high, more user friendly and compact products.
Working on generic water softener projects I became aware of water’s ‘super absorbency’ capability. My interest spurred a company-supported research project and subsequently, the successful creation of a brine-cartridge-based water softener having the following features and benefits:
• adoption of brine cartridge concept simplified the product’s manufacturing construction and in-service use
• concept reduces water consumption by obsoleting its use in brine creation/draw and refill
• concept potentially translates a softener’s traditional hidden placement to an attractive
customer-facing appliance
• the product’s paradigm changing design could reinforce Pentair‘s industry-leading position
and reinforce an ever expanding client base
Contributions:
• Concept Exploration • Visualizations • Engineering/Design Development & Testing • Design Refinement • Material and Processing Specification
Working on generic water softener projects I became aware of water’s ‘super absorbency’ capability. My interest spurred a company-supported research project and subsequently, the successful creation of a brine-cartridge-based water softener having the following features and benefits:
• adoption of brine cartridge concept simplified the product’s manufacturing construction and in-service use
• concept reduces water consumption by obsoleting its use in brine creation/draw and refill
• concept potentially translates a softener’s traditional hidden placement to an attractive
customer-facing appliance
• the product’s paradigm changing design could reinforce Pentair‘s industry-leading position
and reinforce an ever expanding client base
Contributions:
• Concept Exploration • Visualizations • Engineering/Design Development & Testing • Design Refinement • Material and Processing Specification
Fragrancing Device
Prolitec, a technology-enabled air care services company was commissioned by SC. Johnson to design and develop a fragrancing product that would enhance its market position while showing itself to be a technology aware, innovative company. Guided by the client our engineering/design team developed…inception to proof-of concept product…a device that:
• is visually appealing yet not of commanding presence
• is user friendly in its control and routine replenishment
• is both economic in manufacture (price-point) and reliable in performance • comprises a revolutionary air pump suspended within a sound cancelling, vibration attenuating casework
Contributions:
• Concept Generation • Hardware Design/ Development /Documentation/Functional Modelling/ Testing/Refinement • Product Design /Visualizations/Documentation/ Functional Modelling/ Evaluation/ Refinement • Material/ Processing/Finish Specification
• is visually appealing yet not of commanding presence
• is user friendly in its control and routine replenishment
• is both economic in manufacture (price-point) and reliable in performance • comprises a revolutionary air pump suspended within a sound cancelling, vibration attenuating casework
Contributions:
• Concept Generation • Hardware Design/ Development /Documentation/Functional Modelling/ Testing/Refinement • Product Design /Visualizations/Documentation/ Functional Modelling/ Evaluation/ Refinement • Material/ Processing/Finish Specification
Color Measuring Device (Dental)
JJL Technologies, a developer of miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer systems engaged the consultancy to conceptualize a hand-held optomechanical device to measure the color of teeth.
The collaboration produced a product whose contents had formerly been dispersed between two distinct products…a table-top control unit and a hand held device. Our combined engineering/design team developed…inception-to-manufacturing release…a hand-held device that:
• provided ergonomic, single hand functionality/control
• enabled safe interaction with dental clients
• integrated data capture/processing and displaycapabilities into a singular
functional unit
• enabled dentist interaction with captured data
Contributions:
Concept Generation/Visualizations • Technology/ Vendor Research • Hardware Design/Development/Documentation/Functional Modelling/Testing • Design/ Documentation/Prototype Modelling/testing • Material/Processing/ Finish Specification
The collaboration produced a product whose contents had formerly been dispersed between two distinct products…a table-top control unit and a hand held device. Our combined engineering/design team developed…inception-to-manufacturing release…a hand-held device that:
• provided ergonomic, single hand functionality/control
• enabled safe interaction with dental clients
• integrated data capture/processing and displaycapabilities into a singular
functional unit
• enabled dentist interaction with captured data
Contributions:
Concept Generation/Visualizations • Technology/ Vendor Research • Hardware Design/Development/Documentation/Functional Modelling/Testing • Design/ Documentation/Prototype Modelling/testing • Material/Processing/ Finish Specification
Fragrancing Product:
Prolitec, a technology-enabled air care services company was commissioned to design/develop an appliance for use in public restrooms. The design was to incorporate hardware items common to the provider’s traditional fragrancing products • air pump • plume-generating system • control circuitry, power module and fragrance cartridge. The subject concept comprises a:
• molded casework whose front panel when rotated:
* upwards, gives access to the appliance control system
* downwards, gives access to the replaceable fragrancing cartridge
• casework featuring discrete fragrance venting, secure wall mounting and lockable entry
Contributions:
• Conceptual Design/Visualizations • Material/Processing/Finish Specification
• molded casework whose front panel when rotated:
* upwards, gives access to the appliance control system
* downwards, gives access to the replaceable fragrancing cartridge
• casework featuring discrete fragrance venting, secure wall mounting and lockable entry
Contributions:
• Conceptual Design/Visualizations • Material/Processing/Finish Specification
Hobbyist Hand Tool
Bosch-Dremel, a developer/producer of DIY hand tools contracted with Spark Creative to aid creation of the subject Stylus product. It was anticipated that the chargeable device hardware would be aligned linearly about a central axis. An initial product review suggested that the client defined product would be ill-balanced and cumbersome in use. With client engineering oversite we developed a revolutionary device that:
• comprised an ergonomic housing providing optimized hardware placement/securement
• positioned the device gearbox/drive mechanism clutch in axial alignment
• positioned the batteries in the palm of the user’s hand within concept’s hand grip detailing
• incorporated a sliding mechanism that enabled the simple exchange of device tools while simultaneously preventing activation of the device
• conveniently positioned all controls within the user’s grasp
Contributions:
Product Review • Concept Generation/Visualizations • Product Development/Documentation • Prototyping/Testing overview • Material/Processing/Finish Specification
• comprised an ergonomic housing providing optimized hardware placement/securement
• positioned the device gearbox/drive mechanism clutch in axial alignment
• positioned the batteries in the palm of the user’s hand within concept’s hand grip detailing
• incorporated a sliding mechanism that enabled the simple exchange of device tools while simultaneously preventing activation of the device
• conveniently positioned all controls within the user’s grasp
Contributions:
Product Review • Concept Generation/Visualizations • Product Development/Documentation • Prototyping/Testing overview • Material/Processing/Finish Specification
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