Kardinero: A Medical Treadmill Designed for Heart Disease Diagnosis

Revolutionizing Medical Treadmills with Innovative Design

Medical treadmills are a crucial tool in the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. However, they often require extensive maintenance due to their frequent use in medical facilities. Recognizing this challenge, Hakan Gürsu drew inspiration to design a treadmill that would minimize mechanical complexity and facilitate easy assembly, disassembly, and repair.

Kardinero stands out from other medical treadmills with its innovative features and design. The treadmill is constructed using stainless steel profiles, providing a sturdy and durable structure. The wheels, legs, motor, and transmission parts are mounted on this stainless-steel skeleton, ensuring stability and longevity. To enhance its aesthetic appeal and seamlessly connect the handles and vacuum-formed plastic closings with the skeleton, two types of aluminum extrusions are utilized. At the end of these extrusions, injection-molded ABS parts are fixated, ensuring meticulous attention to detail.

One of the key strengths of Kardinero lies in its ease of assembly and disassembly. The treadmill's design allows for rapid assembly, making it convenient for medical professionals to set up and use. In case of a breakdown, the easy access to control units simplifies the repair process, minimizing downtime and ensuring uninterrupted patient care.

When it comes to functionality, Kardinero offers a range of features tailored to the diagnosis of heart diseases. The treadmill's running area dimensions of 550 mm x 1500 mm provide ample space for patients to exercise comfortably. With a velocity range of 0-20.0 km/h and a slope range of 0-25%, Kardinero can accommodate a variety of exercise routines and intensity levels.

Operating Kardinero is a seamless process. Medical doctors and experts can program and control exercises using the treadmill's special software, which can be loaded onto computers. The treadmill needs to be connected to a computer before use. Patients can easily step onto the belt with the help of the handles placed on both sides of the treadmill. The position of the handles can be adjusted to accommodate the patient's physical properties, as they can slide back and forth. During exercise, patients can hold onto the front handles or side handles, ensuring stability and safety.

The Kardinero project was completed in 2017 in Ankara, Turkey. Extensive research was conducted to explore alternative working principles of treadmills and identify the mechanical advantages of these alternatives. The design team also focused on optimizing the assembly sequence to reduce assembly and repair time.

Kardinero's innovative design overcame several challenges. The team aimed to create a sustainable product with a structure that could accommodate future technological advancements. Additionally, they sought to achieve the best mechanical advantage while minimizing the overall volume. By implementing a lever system with a linear actuator, Kardinero achieves two-way motion while occupying less space. The short movement of the linear actuator allows for precise adjustment of the belt's tilt and the required rotational movement of the platform.

The exceptional design of Kardinero has been recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award in the Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design category in 2017. This prestigious award celebrates designs that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and technical excellence. Kardinero's incorporation of best practices in art, science, design, and technology contributes to improving the quality of life for patients and medical professionals alike.

Image courtesy of Designnobis.