Jul 16 2010
Motion Computing® developed the C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) to bring accurate patient data input and retrieval to the point of care in a hospital or other clinical setting.
The slate form factor of this tablet PC supports such features as an integrated digital camera, a barcode scanner, RFID reader, and a stylus for data input — all focused on superior ergonomics that support clinical workflows. Its thoughtful, functional design earned the C5 an honorable mention in the 2009 Annual Design Review conducted by International Design Magazine.
Lorenzo Dunn, chief of product design at Motion®, understands that superior ergonomics also contribute to the C5's success in the marketplace. "Among the most important things to our customers are durability and usability," notes Dunn. "The comfortable, easy-to-grip surface on the back of tablet is an important ergonomic feature that makes carrying the C5 easy."
Luxurious feel and positive protection
The silky feel and non-slip security is provided by a layer of TPSiV® thermoplastic silicone vulcanizate from Multibase USA. This distinctive elastomer is overmolded onto the PC substrate that forms the back of the tablet computer's enclosure. "The material is soft without being tacky," points out Gifford Shearer, Global Innovation and Portfolio Manager at Multibase, "because it requires no plasticizer or oils to achieve its resilience."
The silicone elastomer also contributes to product durability. The flexible overmolding forms an integral seal between the top and bottom of the computer's case, helping prevent the intrusion of moisture and dust without requiring a separate O-ring or gasket. The soft surface also provides a level of shock resistance for both the exterior and interior components.
Chemical and UV resistance
Working in a healthcare environment exposes the C5 to a range of chemicals, including a variety of commercial disinfectants. The Multibase silicone vulcanizate exhibits excellent resistance to these and to common oils and greases, which can cause swelling and hardness changes in other elastomer materials.
The elastomer surfaces of the C5 are a very light grey — so color stability over time is an important part of customer satisfaction. "While sunlight is not a factor for the C5," points out Dunn, "hospitals use high-intensity fluorescent lighting that can put out enough UV to cause yellowing or fading over time." Multibase conducted accelerated aging tests during development of the pre-colored elastomer. The light grey material showed no visible color change after 1,000 hours of exposure –– the equivalent of four years of constant sunlight.
"Multibase also did the color matching for us," added Dunn. "They managed to qualify two colors very quickly, the light grey for the C5, and a black which is used in a similar tablet PC intended for outdoor and field uses." Multibase's Shearer considers it "a technical breakthrough to supply this elastomer in such a light tint with such good color stability."
TPSiV® materials for personal electronics
The grade of thermoplastic silicone vulcanizate specified by Motion Computing is one of a spectrum of similar materials developed by Multibase for use in personal electronics such as cell phones, PDAs, and computers. Within the TPSiV® product line, specific formulations offer a selection of hardness, as well as a range of resistance to UV, to abrasion, and to chemicals. These elastomers also exhibit excellent bonding to a variety of plastic substrate materials.
TPSiV® elastomers are produced using proprietary technology to disperse finely divided particles of crosslinked silicone rubber in a matrix of thermoplastic urethane. As a result, these materials combine the softness of silicone with the toughness of TPU.
Source: http://www.multibase.com/