The company’s product, PositionOR, was launched in early 2009 and is a unique operating room device that serves as an extra set of “hands” in the surgical field. Tri-Power Design was hired to help develop the system, starting from a napkin sketch up to the pre-production.

Solution: PositionOR is a unique operating room device that serves as an extra set if “hands” in the surgical field. Weighing less than 12 pounds, it is designed for quick setup and break-down, attaching to the OR table in just seconds. Its design mimics the motion of a human arm, articulating about the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints. It operates with single-handed control from the surgeon. The unit provides reliable and steadfast instrument positioning, even during the longest surgical procedures, while taking up less space than a human assistant. Additionally, the surgeon can opt for 2, 3, or even 4 arms to be used simultaneously. The PositionOR never needs a break and the system incorporates its own disposable, sterile drape, a low-cost alternative to cleaning and autoclaving.

Design Challenges: While there had been multiple challenges developing this system, one of the more unique challenges was creating a system that did not infringe on the intellectual property (IP) that existed for competitive products. Our engineers spent countless hours developing a novel latching and locking system that not only avoided IP infringement but earned several utility patents of their own where Tri-Power Design Engineers were named as co-inventors.