e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Tinroad]

Volan Wins again, e.Digital mentioned as client.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=655575

Volan Design Wins 2001 Medical Design Excellence Award for Waterpik Technologies' Waterpik Flosser; Waterpik Flosser Design Represents Innovation and Engineering Excellence

04/04/2001
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 2001, Business Wire)

BOULDER, Colo.--(BW HealthWire)--April 4, 2001--Volan Design(TM) LLC, an award-winning international product and brand development company, has recently been honored as a winner of the fourth annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition.

Volan Design and Waterpik Technologies, Inc. won a top award for the product design of the Waterpik(TM) Flosser in the category of dental instruments, equipment and supplies.

The MDEA competition, the premier awards program for the medical technology community, is the only such program devoted exclusively to recognizing contributions and advancements in the design of medical products. Volan Design and Waterpik will receive the award at a ceremony to be held June 6, 2001, during the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East 2001 Conference and Exposition at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Volan Design's winning Waterpik Flosser design will also be on display in the MDEA booth at the show.

An impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors -- with expertise in the fields of biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine, nursing, diagnostics, and medical packaging -- performed a comprehensive review of all the entries. The jury ultimately selected 28 winners in 10 medical product categories. MDEA-winning products are recognized for their excellence in the areas of product innovation, design and engineering excellence, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

Commenting on the winning products, Michael E. Wiklund, jury chair and a human factors engineering consultant with the American Institutes for Research (Concord, MA), stated: "Many of the manufacturers started with a ubiquitous product and achieved remarkable functional and human factor improvements. Their breakthroughs were mostly tied to analyzing how people interacted with existing devices and finding ways to improve those interactions dramatically. The winning manufacturers sweated the details, paying close attention to industrial design qualities such as form, fit, and finish, resulting in a refined appearance and smooth mechanical interactions."

"We were very pleased to be recognized with a Medical Design Excellence Award," said Volan Design Principal Greg Volan. "Good design is playing an increasingly important role in product development and it is having a positive impact on the marketplace."


Product Design Goals

Waterpik Technologies and Volan Design initially defined three key design goals for the battery-operated Flosser. First, the device had to be just as effective and easier to use than conventional dental floss. This was achieved through design elements which included low handle vibration, easily replaceable tips and overall smooth operation. Second, it had to operate in a simple and intuitive manner for a wide range of users. This was accomplished with a unique tip design, single control button, multiple color-coded heads, large tactile grip surface and a lightweight size. "We designed the device in such a way that inserting the tip into your mouth is a completely natural movement, acting as an extension of your fingertip, and making the product simple to use," said Volan Design's Director of Design Bill Stephens.

MDEA Sponsors

The MDEA competition recognizes the engineers, scientists and designers who are responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of healthcare. The MDEA program is presented by Canon Communications LLC and sponsored by MedSource Technologies, DuPont Tyvek, Agion Technologies LLC, Battelle, Avail, Colorado MEDtech, IBA Medical Sterilization & Analytical Labs, and Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine, as well as the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, an interdisciplinary organization of professionals involved in the human factors field.

Volan Design: Integrated Design for Product, Brand and
Digital Media


Volan Design is a multi-disciplinary product, brand and digital media development firm dedicated to helping clients define, design and launch products into the marketplace utilizing the powerful competitive advantages of brand-centric design. Volan Design has delivered award-winning product and brand development for national and international clients since the firm's inception in 1979. Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Palo Alto, Calif., Volan Design's client roster includes: DataPlay , Inc.; e.Digital Corporation; Hitachi Medical Systems America Inc.; MatchLogic; Network Photonics; Oracle Corporation; Reebok/CCS; and Waterpik Technologies. For more information about Volan Design, call 303/530-2828 and visit the company's website at www.volan.com.