Rugged mobile ventilator for responders.
Hamilton Medical tasked RKS with transforming full-featured ICU ventilator capabilities into a truly portable, field-ready device. The T1 needed to withstand ambulances, helicopters, aircraft, and disaster zones, delivering intuitive usability for clinicians under pressure.
We shadowed clinicians, EMS teams, ICU specialists, and aeromedical professionals across Europe and the U.S., capturing insights around mobility, durability, and cognitive load in crisis use cases. Positioned within the enriched quadrant of our emotional matrix, the T1 balances high-tech reassurance with familiar ICU workflows
How We Used Psycho-Aesthetics™ to Identify Unique Opportunities in the Project.
Using our proprietary Psycho-Aesthetics® 2.0 framework, we conducted in-depth interviews and ethnographic observation in diverse lab settings. We identified key emotional and usability pain points — such as intimidation with complex interfaces, workspace clutter, and trust in precision. These insights guided both the form and interface strategy, ensuring approachability and confidence in operation.
The industrial design emphasizes resilience and clarity—soft-rubber bumpers, recessed controls, integrated handles, and display readability even with gloves. The familiar push-turn knob preserves ICU interaction patterns while shielding against inadvertent input.
CAD models and rough mockups for field testing
Ergonomic handle and bumpers with rugged mount compatibility
UI layout optimized for visibility, redundancy, and haptic feedback
Built to endure stringent performance demands: IP54 ingress rating, operational range from –15 °C to +50 °C, and mounting for aircraft, ambulances, stretches, and poles. Engineers carefully integrated battery swaps, turbines, and port configurations while keeping weight under 6.5 kg.
Prototypes for thermal, pressure, and vibration testing
Mechanical layout with transport-ready battery and connector solutions
Technical documentation aligned with certification standards
We designed ergonomically familiar UI modules and firmware menus for familiar ICU workflows—volume control, ASV, HFNC, non-invasive modes, and CPR assistance. On-screen help, alarms, and icons ensure visibility and clarity during emergencies
Touchscreen UI flows for monitoring and control
Alarm and CPR timer interface graphics
Embedded support routines for transportation modalities
The Hamilton T1 embodies RKS’s strength in creating life-critical products for high-stress situations—blending emotional clarity with tactical functionality. By harmonizing deep user insights, robust industrial design, and intuitive software workflows, we enabled clinicians to provide ICU-level care anywhere, quickly and confidently.
Status: Successfully launched; fully deployed in ambulances, helicopters, aircraft, and field hospitals
Market Impact:
71 % of German-speaking air rescue services adopt T1 in helicopters
Seamless ICU-to-field transition with universal interface and accessory compatibility
Features widely exceed AARC pandemic/mass-casualty performance benchmarks
Strategy
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