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Medit Corporation
Medit Corporation
New Jersey's Medit Corporation offers an Internet service that allows individuals to manage and control access to their personal and medical information online via a secured database. The three part system is called MIICE (Medical Information In Case of Emergency) and includes identification cards and wrist bands that provide personal emergency access numbers. With these numbers, EMS, police, and other first responders can quickly access an individual's shared personal and medical information online or by phone.
The problem
Wearable identification is the most effective means for emergency medical technicians and paramedics to access a patient's medical information. Since emergency personnel are already trained to look for bracelets, the wristbands were critical to Medit Corporation's service offering. The problem was finding the right material and design at the right price.
"We pursued many different design approaches," recalls Carl Jarvis, President of Medit Corporation. "The challenge was that we had to ensure a strong aesthetic appeal and the long-term effectiveness of the identification markings on the bands. These were extremely important to the overall success of our business and brand. It had to be done right."
Medit Corporation knew what they wanted in terms of a design, but they needed help on making it happen. Their designer recommended Vicone.
Vicone's solution
"Vicone proposed several solutions," says Jarvis. "On the inside of the band, one idea was to use an adhesive label that would provide the wearer's information."
"They had initially tried different silicone-based adhesive labels that could later be enhanced with a screening process," recounts Vicone's President Eric Leclair. "But they kept coming back to three limiting issues: 1) adding a second material into the assembly would likely increase Medit's manufacturing costs, 2) the life of the bands would be limited by the label's adhesive characteristics, and 3) stretching of the bands as they moved on and off the wrist would eventually result in delamination."
"The best solution seemed to be an all silicone wristband with laser engraving,” recounts Jarvis. “But when we tried it using only one color the numbers on the inside of the band were illegible. We needed to incorporate two contrasting colors, but that was easier said than done."
"We molded two different colored silicone pieces together so that one color would show through after the band was engraved," continues Leclair. "The key was to keep the profile of the band thin enough because the laser engraving could only go so far and we didn't want the bracelet to be bulky. We managed to find the perfect balance. This method even enabled us to introduce bands with information that glows in the dark to help Medit Corp's branding and expand their product line."
"Vicone developed a two-part prototype mold and then did some extensive studies to optimize the design," adds Medit Corporation's President. "They solved our problem and built our ideal solution in just 10 weeks to first order delivery. Vicone proved itself to be a strategic ally, a trusted advisor, and an extension of my development team."
