Catalyst

The ATEC Breast Biopsy and Excision System:  Sapphire™ unit console is the first ever all-in-one vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system capable of minimally invasive tissue excision.  The project goal was to redesign the company’s “flagship” console into one that displayed the company’s commitment to a compassionate, patient-friendly biopsy solution.  The interaction between the console and patient was as important as the interaction between the console and clinicians/physicians. 

Catalyst worked to accomplish this by incorporating soft curves and warm color selections to exemplify the compassionate approach Suros strives for.  The unit’s noise level was reduced through sound-proof foam and internal baffles. This was considered a significant and necessary achievement to create a “safe feeling” for the patient and minimizing the emotional trauma of a potentially stressful situation. 

Maintaining the console’s integrity for offering clinicians a method for a fast, safe and easy, minimally invasive breast biopsy procedure was of paramount importance.  The operator control pad was redesigned to have a more intuitive interface and utilized a touch pad membrane switch which gave the unit a more sophisticated, high-tech look and feel.  The unit hook-up receptacles were repositioned and separated from the user interface for ease of identification.  All of these changes also enhanced cleaning and maintenance of the unit. The new system was 25% smaller than its predecessor and is significantly lighter weight than the original design, increasing mobility and the ease of transportation.