Hanchun Shao

Industrial Design, 2015

Medi-Pole seeks to solve various problems related to intra-hospital transportation IV poles. During the Medi-Pole’s design, the stability, maneuverability, and ergonomics of standard IV poles were analyzed. The project aims to provide comfort in a safe hospital experience for patients both physically and psychologically. Besides the obvious benefits to patients, it also addresses the work experience of nurses, increasing hospital efficiency and improving resource allocation.

This project mainly solves four problems mentioned most frequently among the twelve patients, four nurses and two doctors who were interviewed. The design of the base, which is six wheels evenly on its sides and movable wings, focuses on solving stepping on or tipping over the product as well as mobility into small space issues. The sliding track design, instead of the traditional clamp style, relieves nurses’ hands and solves their suffering infusion pump transportation issue. The tube organizers guide IV tubes in an organized manner, providing patients a neat and comfortable visual experience. Finally, the weak fluorescent light helps nurses easily change IV fluids in the dark without disturbing the patients.

Hanchun Shao is a 2015 graduate from the Industrial Design program and marketing program at The Ohio State University. She loves getting to know clients, and look for problems for their real needs. She feels design gives us beauty and it has to be functional as well. Besides product design, she is also passionate about visual communication design, advertisement and branding.