LINK MERGES WITH ERI GROUP

LINK has merged with eri group!

---

The merger between LINK and ERI Group will create one of the most comprehensive medical, healthcare and wellness product development companies in the region, with an end-to-end suite of services from initial concept through moderate volume manufacturing that are unparalleled and genuinely provide a differentiated level of support for our clients.

Expect the same faces, same commitment to innovation and expanded services, including electrical and software engineering, medical device quality assurance & regulatory affairs, and contract manufacturing. Plus our signature product design, industrial design, prototyping, and engineering expertise.

"This is an extremely exciting opportunity for ERI Group and LINK, and we are thrilled to extend our current working relationship with LINK and to bring their team's excellence and experience into the ERI Group," says Natasha Bond, president of ERI Group. "The merger of our two organizations and our investment in talent and technology will help us to better meet the growing needs of our clients, allowing us to add early development and industrial design capabilities to our existing depth of capability in mechanical, electrical, software and system engineering, quality, regulatory and manufacturing services. We are confident our newly formed partnership will have a positive impact on our clients, our teams and the delivery of innovative medical devices and health and wellness products to the marketplace."

"The partnership between ERI Group and LINK will allow us to create a full-service company that is focused on innovation and is committed to delivering forward-thinking concepts to market," says Hanchak. "LINK's mission to create products that improve people's lives matches the ERI philosophy of empowering visions for life-changing products. Our shared mission, parallel cultures, and commitment to our clients created the perfect opportunity to join our organizations into a stronger, integrated, and multidisciplinary firm focused on exciting advancements."

As part of the merger, LINK founder, Marc Hanchak, and his team will become part of ERI Group. Marc will serve as Vice President of Product Development at ERI Group and continue to oversee industrial design, engineering, project management, and product design.

LINK Featured In Modern In Denver Magazine

LINK was recently featured in the 2022 Summer Issue of Modern In Denver Magazine.

Vivoblu Launches New Water Filter Backpack System

Long time client of LINK, VivoBlu, recently launched a portable backpack water filter for added mobility to their water filtration system. The backpack integrates with the filter system developed together with LINK to provide a shippable, portable, solution for clean drinking water.

This solution adds mobility to the existing water filter solution for populations that are forced to be on the move during evacuation events.

Find out more about their mission and consider donating to their cause through the links below.

TITAN CSR In Today's Medical Developments Magazine

Check out our article in Today's Medical Developments Magazine detailing the design process behind the TITAN CSR with Advanced Surgical Retractor Systems, Inc.

“The team at LINK partnered with Advanced Surgical Retractor Systems Inc. (ASR Systems), a medical device manufacturer led by a military trauma surgeon and a veteran medical device entrepreneur, to design a novel surgical retractor to be used in invasive abdominal surgeries, called laparotomies. The team at ASR Systems had identified a need to improve upon outdated abdominal retractor technology for a variety of surgical disciplines and deliver a tool that that would be specifically designed to meet the needs of trauma and military field surgeons.”

Vivoblu Inc. Global Impact

Vivoblu is a water filtration company located in Denver, Colorado. Vivoblu is using its uniquely designed, patent-pending water filtration solutions to provide access to clean, safe water for some of the nearly 2 billion people who lack clean water. LINK teamed up with Vivoblu to bring a practical and durable filter solution for developing countries into production.

Vivoblu water filters are now in 12 countries. And they currently have a team distributing filters in villages in Rwanda that have no clean water source. They helped with multiple disasters and humanitarian efforts, including the Haiti earthquake, Philippines typhoon disaster and hurricane Ida in Louisiana. Learn more about Vivoblu Water for All global impact: https://lnkd.in/ejfP2bFQ

LUCI Launches LUCI+Air™

LUCI has just recently launched their new development LUCI+Air™. The team at LINK Product Development helped to design and bring this technology to life alongside the team at LUCI. Below is more info on the launch!

“Today, we’re excited to introduce LUCI+Air™, a first-of-its-kind, real-time, smart air cushion pressure monitor. LUCI+Air takes the guesswork and stress out of air cushion inflation. In addition to knowing your cushion is properly inflated, LUCI+Air gives you important information about how much time you spend sitting, and how often you are off-loading from your cushion. We’re giving LUCI users the most accurate monitoring and continuous, effortless tracking ever. The patent-pending LUCI+Air works with your air-filled cushion and the MyLuci™ app to display the data you need to manage your skin, create offloading targets, set reminders and track your progress.

Features include:

• Accurate, personalized “time-in-seat” data

• Monitoring your inflation level, every minute, even when you need to turn off your chair

• Create personal goals for how often and long you want to offload, set reminders, and track your progress

• Hardware auditory and visual alerts with user-controlled secure sharing options

• Protected against water and dust (meets IP53 standards)

• Lightweight, compact, and durable

• Easy, one-button setup

• Less power usage than even the battery indicator on your wheelchair; no batteries necessary

The MyLUCI app was built to work with health and wellness data, and LUCI+Air was created because we believe seating data should, too.

Phone notifications can be set up to let you know if your cushion pressure changes outside the effective zone you and your clinician have established. And the MyLUCI app gives you the choice to securely share information with specific members of your care team.

LUCI+Air works with almost all air-filled cushions, including single-valve cushions, or multi-valve cushions that can be set with the valve open.

After installing LUCI+Air, users can open the MyLuci app to access an unprecedented level of accurate, continuous data. The MyLuci app also gives the rider the choice to securely share that information with specific members of their care team.

LUCI+Air will be available to current LUCI users soon, and we’ll have even more announcements about LUCI™ seating products later this year. If you use one of the eligible cushions listed above and would be interested in LUCI+Air, let us know. Or, if you’d like to receive further news and announcements from LUCI, sign up for our mailing list.”

Five Proven Steps to Bring New Concepts to Market

We have worked with dozens of entrepreneurs and companies over the years to bring new and novel products to life. Many products began with a simple idea, need or challenge and grew into a solution or concept to improve people’s lives or bring about an industry innovation.

From medical devices to outdoor gear and consumer products, no one product development process is the same.

However, after helping design, develop and manufacture many products for a wide range of industries, we have a created a proven formula that works, and is efficient while mitigating as many risks as possible. 

In this article, we share five proven yet commonly overlooked steps for helping companies successfully deliver new concepts to market.  

LINK Wins Good Design Award

LINK has been given the Good Design Award for our engineering and

industrial design work on the LUCI Project. Read more below:

“The concept for LUCI started with a little girl in a power wheelchair, a mom who chose fight over flight, and two brothers who dared to take matters into their own hands.

Eighty seven percent of power wheelchair riders report at least one tip or fall in the past three years. Enter LUCI.

Smart wheelchair technology brought to life to power wheelchairs for stability, security, connectivity and independence.

LINK Product Development helped bring LUCI to life. The LINK design team of mechanical engineers and industrial designers took concepts from sketches all the way to final production units.”

James Dyson Interview

We love sharing stories on innovation. Check out James Dyson interview as he answers the internet's burning questions about design and inventions. Pay particular attention to what he says about inventors and prototypes (@ 5:00min)... we give the same advice all the time. From WIRED and WIRED UK
#productdesign #productdevelopment #prototyping #inventor #dyson #industrialdesign

LINK Featured On KOA Radio

In case you missed it, LINK founder Marc Hanchak was interviewed by 850 KOA radio (iHeartMedia with Connor Shreve) to discuss the landscape of product development here in Colorado. Hear what Marc has to say about local design, prototyping, and manufacturing being critical to success.

Feature in Denver Business Journal - LINK and The Quick Company

Denver entrepreneur and design firm link up for new medical device

By Jensen Werley  –  Reporter, Denver Business Journal

Sep 17, 2021

A Denver product development firm has partnered with a Denver-area entrepreneur to invent and produce a new medical device that gives health care providers quick access to their tools.

LINK Product Development worked with Dr. Jack Nguyen, a Denver-based dentist and founder of The Quick Company, to bring a concept designed by Nguyen to life. A full-service product design firm, LINK handles everything including ideation, industrial design, market analysis, feasibility studies, engineering, prototyping and working with manufacturers.

Together, Nguyen and LINK developed the Microtray, a small, molded plastic tray that adheres to surgical gloves and allows medical professionals quick access to tools used during procedures. The Microtray is initially being marketed for dentists and dental assistants.

“It had to be flexible because the hand is not static,” Marc Hanchak, founder of LINK, said of the design the firm settled on for the Microtray. “It had to contour to different-shaped hands and hold a variety of dental tools, gauze and mixing wells.”

LINK developed dozens of prototypes, watching Nguyen manipulate tools to see what might work best in a way that would work for either hand and any-sized hand. Eventually, the team settled on a small diamond-shaped tray with holders for various tools that can adhere to a dentist’s glove.

When LINK works with an inventor, as the design evolves, the firm works with local patent attorneys. The design can be patented if it's novel — and a person might approach LINK with one use in mind, but the design can be patented for additional uses if that comes up. But the client retains 100% of the intellectual property, Hanchak said.

The Microtray is now in the early stages of production. Hanchak said an important tenet of LINK is to bring manufacturing back to Colorado. He said that the Microtray is being injection-molded in the U.S. and that the application of the adhesive backing and packaging is being done in Colorado through Nguyen’s company. As for commercialization, Nguyen said in an emailed statement that they are using small-batch distribution for now and anticipate moving toward large-scale sales efforts in the next two to three months.

“Our state is second to none,” Hanchak said of Colorado and why it was so important to the company to bring manufacturing here. “There’s such a deep history of manufacturing in this state. There’s an amazing talent pool to get things mass-produced. We’re a great alternative for someone who is looking to onshore their manufacturing.”

Behind the Livingston mask

Design of a reusable N-95 mask for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in Todays Medical Developments

September 23, 2021
Marc Hanchak & Schuyler Livingston

During the initial and troublesome shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) that occurred as COVID-19 unfolded in the spring of 2020, our team at LINK found ourselves challenged with designing a reusable N-95 mask for healthcare workers. The goal was aimed at reducing dependency on unstable supply chains and the subsequent shortage of PPE.

What began with a personal connection and passion for lending a hand during a worldwide healthcare crisis, led to a rapid yet thoughtful design project that blended medical device and manufacturing expertise with ingenuity and teamwork.

Opportunity
The opportunity was to design a durable, reusable, and tight-fitting mask surgical mask for frontline healthcare workers as a rapid solution to the critical PPE shortage. Reusability was key, as hospitals and clinics were exhausting supplies of PPE faster than they could be mass produced. Through a series of connections, our team was linked with UC Health, The University of Colorado InWorks program, Make4Covid, and other partners to collaborate on the project.

The initial goal was to develop a mask delivering at least the droplet protection of a surgical mask with a design objective of providing protection against aerosolized viral particles at the N-95 level. From the clinical perspective, the mask needed to be tight-fitting to prevent air from entering other than through the filter to meet the aerosol standard and be comfortable enough to be worn for a prolonged period. According to the stated goal, “The air exchange needed to be adequate for the level of exertion commonly experienced in the clinical environment (ranging from low-intensity sedentary work with the electronic medical record to bursts of high-intensity aerobic exertion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It would need to be durable and able to stand up to repeated cycles of decontamination with bleach, alcohol, or disinfectant solution. Finally, the mask design would need to fit within a face shield without excessive fogging. Materials considerations included the need for impermeable materials (other than the filter material itself), biocompatibility, durability, and ability to undergo repeated cycles of disinfection.”

Process
The design process, for what was later coined the Livingston Mask, began by identifying the current challenge or need (lack of reusable N-95 masks for healthcare workers) and important specifications (identified above). This initial discovery process was followed by a series of hand-constructed prototypes and iterations of novel designs.

We began by using silicon molding materials we had on hand to cast an initial mask design within 24 hours of identifying the need. Dissembling other masks used in healthcare settings, experimenting with enhanced versions of the initial design, and casting additional prototypes became the next steps in the process. We used 3D printing to construct the molds required to cast each prototype iteration out of a flexible skin safe thermoset resin.

Once we were connected with a frontline clinician at UC Health, our team was able to test the prototypes in a live setting, secure feedback and turn around an improved design within 24 hours. The rapid-cycle iterative feedback was key in moving the design process forward quickly and with positive improvements. Our team tested a total of seven iterations of the prototype to pass the “qualitative fit test.” The fit test procedure is a requirement put in place by OSHA as a part of a company’s respiratory protection program. This test checks the seal between the respirator face piece and the users face. To detect leakage into the respirator face piece, qualitative fit tests rely on the wearer’s sense of taste or smell as a reaction to an irritant. This is a pass/fail method that relies on whether or not the user detects leakage of the test substance into the face piece. OSHA accepts four qualitative fit test methods:

• Isoamyl acetate, which smells like bananas

• Saccharin, which leaves a sweet taste in your mouth

• Bitrex, which leaves a bitter taste in your mouth

• Irritant smoke, which can cause coughing

We worked through iterations of our prototypes until we consistently passed qualitative fit tests.

Materials
The following components were assembled and used in the initial design of the Livingston Mask.

• Silicon mask chassis

• Top & bottom straps

• Metal disk

• Plastic housing

• Filter material

• Knob

For prototyping, a skin safe product from Smooth-On was utilized. This product is easily mixed and cast using silicone molds. We laser cut and 3D printed plastic components and sourced elastic from Rockywoods Fabrics in Colorado. As the product moved closer to production, we engaged Protolabs in Minnesota to cut tools to injection mold the plastic components. Protolabs also injection molded the mask body in a thermoplastic, medical-grade, flexible material that was compatible with common cleaning solutions used in the hospitals. 

Focused Light, a laser cutting service company in Denver, provided the metal disks as a core component of the filter assembly. The straps of the facemask were sourced from a variety of vendors in several design iterations in case of supply chain shortages. The design could use basic buttonhole elastic webbing or even rubber bands if necessary. The filter material was, of course, the most difficult item to source on this list. We worked with a supplier that previously made filter material for other industries and had re-tooled their factory to create N-95 comparable material. We worked directly with this source to create custom disks that would work with this mask, using (and hence wasting) much less material than traditional masks that are single use disposable.

Key learnings
The iterative process for the Livingston Mask, which included initial design and tooling to production of samples, was completed in just over four weeks. The development of a new product from concept to production in a month’s time is unprecedented, however, there were factors which could have accelerated the process and are fruitful lessons for future medical device projects.

Without a design team and suppliers, such as Protolabs and Focused Light, who were all willing to work overtime and weekends to expedite parts, the project could not have been executed within the same timeframe. The filter material suppliers were not able to respond as quickly, and project management of these vendors and assimilation into the cause was quite difficult. Relationships with critical supply chain vendors should have been priority one. This is also the case with normal product development cycles, and apparent in today’s global supply chain situation. It was also evident that the more capabilities the product developer has in house, the better. We are fortunate to have a plethora of 3D printers, a laser cutter, molding capabilities, machining, and welding within our studio. The addition of an injection molding machine, a die cutter, and a few other pieces of equipment would have lessened the project’s dependency on external suppliers. Raw materials could be more quickly processed onsite as opposed to by the vendor and design iterations could have been accomplished even faster.

While the testing phase slowed the project past the critical point of need, we were able to navigate vendor and supply chain issues and collaborate with many team members to rapidly develop an open-source design with an injection mold tool, which lays in wait for subsequent waves of COVID-19, future healthcare crisis or impending medical needs.

Quick Company Microtray Launch

LINK Product Development (LINK) and The Quick Company announce the launch of Microtray Universal (Microtray), a new-to-market dental assistance tool designed and developed in Denver.

The Microtray line was developed by LINK in collaboration with Dr. Jack Nguyen, founder of The Quick Company and a Denver-based dentist. The tool is a small, molded plastic tray that adheres to surgical gloves allowing dentists and dental assistants quick access to commonly used materials and disposables during various dental procedures. It is the first product of its kind developed for the dental field.

“We are very excited to help bring the Microtray product to market after a thoughtful design and prototyping process that was based on problem solving, observation and the first-hand experience of Dr. Jack Nguyen,” says Marc Hanchak, founder, LINK Product Development. “Our team visited Dr. Jack’s dental office to experience and observe the problem in person. Filming and studying the activities performed gave us detailed insight into the parameters for the product. We took ergonomics, safety, and ease of use into consideration throughout the design process. The end result is an innovative solution for storage and workflow during a wide array dental procedures that will truly enhance the profession.”

Microtray is being manufactured in the U.S. using rapid tooling injection molding and assembled in Denver.

“Prior to my career as a dentist, my background is in research, which gave me the skills to identify what I saw as a challenge in my profession and to think through a solution,” says Dr. Jack Nguyen, MS, DDS, founder of The Quick Company.  “I partnered with LINK to collaborate on the project, ask questions, help refine the initial concept, and deliver the final product to market. This concept is a true collaboration and an exciting advancement in the medical field.”

LAUNCHING PRODUCTS IN A PARTS SHORTAGE

Great article by our own Ben Ettinger with a few tips for navigating the current supply chain landscape. Thanks for the post ColoradoBiz Magazine!

While it may feel like the dust is settling from the storm caused by COVID-19, the same can’t be said for the effect it has had on supply-chains around the globe.

While the spotlight has shone bright on semiconductor shortages, the fallout has permeated a multitude of industries.

If you’re in the process of taking a product to market, odds are that you are feeling the shockwave produced by global shortages and surging demands.

DESIGN FOR GOOD

Our latest article in ColoradoBiz Magazine covers what we mean by 'Design for Good'. As designers, we play a critical role in building the world we live in and the future ahead of us to create positive social impact. With the transition to a more sustainable and socially conscious economy under way, design for good has never been more important.

GUERRILLA GRAVITY PRESS

Guerrilla Gravity was recently featured by 5280’s Colorado Gear Guide, Bike Magazine, Pink Bike, and others.

LUCI IN TIME MAGAZINE

LUCI, the revolutionary smart wheelchair technology, has been announced as a part of Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2020” as one of the “100 innovations changing how we live.”

LINKS FAVORITE DESIGNS OF 2020

2020 VITPILEN 701

The 2020 Vitpilen 701 from Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH, designed in conjunction with KISKA, one of our favorite product design firms. The bike has incredible lines, an eye-catching color scheme, and a classic riding position that connects rider and road in a very primordial way.

BEOGRAM 4000C RECREATED LIMITED EDITION

An icon reimagined to highlight the timelessness of a classic design. The 4000c RLE features an anodized champagne tone aluminum and a solid oak frame give the design a modern update while staying true to the original.

LINCOLN ELECTRIC VRTEX

Lincoln Electric VRTEX virtual reality welding training simulator. Very realistic trainer with immediate results from telemetry in the torch, teacher and on screen real time display of weld. Designed for the user to gain skill faster with pointed feedback and visualization.

SODA STREAM FIZZI

It checks all of the boxes in terms of good design: perfectly intuitive single-button user interface, easy to operate and maintain with swappable CO2 cartridges, small footprint, simple aesthetics and customizable in color.

It also cuts down on waste - less garbage from cans or bottled water, and fewer trips to the grocery store - and is a cheaper alternative to single-serving sparkling waters, juices, or sodas. In short - a delightful experience to use and opportunity for us all stay hydrated and live greener!

Q800T QLED

Samsung Electronics 75" Class Q800T QLED 8K UHD HDR Smart TV. Yes, flat screen TV's have been around for ages, but this design is a game changer. The QLED screen produces deeper blacks, whiter whites and rich colors that trick your eye into thinking you’re a few feet away from the action. The crisp clear details immerse you into whatever you’re watching and provide an escape from everyday life.

ONE CLOCK LAUNCH

The Denver Business Journal featured OneClock and the design concept behind the new retro alarm clock.

OneClock partnered with LINK Product Development to bring this new analog device to market.  The technology is based in sonic science using waking music composed by Grammy-winning artists to help lift users out of sleep in a peaceful, more natural way. OneClock’s minimalist design includes natural materials and delicately balanced proportions featuring the best tones, tempos and frequencies for a better way to wake up.  OneClock recently raised over $780,000 on Kickstarter.

3 KEYS TO PRODUCT MANUFACTURING FOR STARTUPS

Marc Hanchak, founder of LINK Product Development, shares his expertise with ColoradoBiz Magazine. The article ‘3 keys to product manufacturing for startups’ offers insights from the LINK team of veteran industrial designers, on getting consumer products manufactured and into the hands of customers as efficiently as possible.

LINK has partnered with dozens of start-ups navigating the pitfalls of manufacturing, and even help established companies who’ve developed multiple products and know the ropes become more agile and proficient. Read on for three tips for getting your idea from the prototype stage to a finished product.