Background

In the treatments and studies on cancer, identifying and calculating rare cells contained in blood, such as circulating tumor cells (CTC), is a method that has received increasing attention in recent years. A rare cell testing company with their unique eDAR (ensemble-decision aliquot ranking) technology CTC detection prototype system came to Wistron Medical Technology, looking for our system integration expertise to develop and produce their product, to empower more hospitals and research institutions on their cutting-edge studies and treatments of cancer.

WMT’s Impact

When the client showed us the prototype of their system for the first time, we saw the potential of this technology: Automated and fast completion of CTC testing. However, the prototype requires 4 square meters, making it difficult entering the actual laboratory and used by outstanding scientists and doctors. After discussing with the client, we seized the opportunity to effectively improve the product, that is, to make the complex and huge prototype system reduce its size and become more manufacturable so that this technology can be launched and enter the market smoothly.

Compact design

This fully automated blood CTC instrument includes complex fluid modules, microfluidic wafers, and optical systems. Our mechanical engineers make adjustments in the tubing and optimize of the optical system and the placement of all components. The product's footprint is as little as a quarter and form factor is reduced to 1/10 of the original, and it is now suitable to be placed in the laboratories settings of any research institution or hospital.

Industrial design and user research

A breakthrough technology must also be added to the professional industrial design, human-factor engineering, and user experience design to become a good product. WMT's industrial design team conducts field research to study the daily operational behavior of laboratory researchers and further translates insights into the concept of product design. Finally, we use cardboard mockup to prototype the idea and do the user testing with it. Through the continuous optimization process, we design this fully automatic CTC test instrument very simple and easy to use. The user only needs to go through two or three steps, and the instrument will take care of the rest.

Assembly complexity

When we get satisfactory results on the design drawing and the engineering prototype, the real challenge is just about to begin. This sophisticated system consists of a variety of hoses, moving mechanisms, and sensitive optical components with a total up to 1000 components! Our production team's NPI experts took on this challenge. Through continuous simulation, trial and adjustment of the production line, we decided to assemble this product with a flexible working station. First, we put together all the parts into a number of small modules according to the level and properties, and then composed the small modules into three main subsystems, and finally, integrated the three into the final product.

Through the cooperation with Wistron Medical Technology, the rare cell testing company can successfully make the CTC testing instrument from the prototype stage into mass production. Through miniaturization, industrial design, and the introduction of flexible production method, this innovative product will be able to serve more cutting-edge cancer cell research and diagnostics.