Product News: DRG:Hybrid-XL Honored as Finalist in the Medical Design Excellence Awards

DRG International is pleased to announce that the DRG:Hybrid-XL has been selected as a finalist of the 17th Annual Medical Design Excellence Awards competition. Finalists were officially announced in the April Issue of MD+DI (Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry) magazine. Winners will be announced at the 2014 MDEA Ceremony held Wednesday, June 11, 2014 in conjunction with the MD&M East event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

The DRG:Hybrid-XL fully automated, random access analyzer is a desktop analyzer, ideal for medium-sized and small laboratories. The machine’s unique design will provide diagnostic services to research laboratories, hospitals, clinics and large medical practice facilities.

DRG worked hand-in-hand with design partner, BIT, on the project, developing software and design elements to allow for the Hybrid’s versatile laboratory use. The innovative technology of the Hybrid-XL allows the simultaneous measurement of immunoassays and clinical chemistry parameters, including turbidimetric tests in one sample. In smaller labs, the Hybrid-XL will combine the ability to analyze both immunodiagnostic parameters, as well as clinical chemistry tests, which would otherwise require two separate processors.

“We are thrilled to be among the high caliber finalists for the prestigious Medical Design Excellence Awards,” said Cyril E. Geacintov, Ph. D, founder, CEO, and president ofDRG International. “The DRG:Hybrid-XL is truly a revolutionary product which will allow laboratories to conduct specific testing on-site, providing for faster and more accurate test results with greater convenience.”

The MDEA is the medtech industry’s premier design competition committed to searching worldwide for the highest caliber finished medical devices, products, systems, or packaging available on the market. The awards program celebrates the achievements of the medical device manufacturers, their suppliers, and the many people behind the scenes—engineers, scientists, designers, and clinicians—who are responsible for the cutting-edge products that are saving lives; improving patient healthcare; and transforming medtech—one innovation at a time.

Entries are judged by an impartial panel of medtech experts. Unlike other design competitions that are merely styling contests, the MDEA jury is comprised of a balance of practicing doctors, nurses, and technicians alongside industrial designers, engineers, manufacturers, and human factors experts. MDEA jurors comprehensively review entries based on the following criteria: the ability of the product development team to overcome all challenges so the product meets its clinical objectives; innovative use of materials, components, and processes; user-related functions improving healthcare delivery and changing traditional medical attitudes or practices; features providing enhanced benefits to the patient and end-user in relation to clinical efficacy; manufacturing cost-effectiveness and profitability; and healthcare system benefits such as improved accessibility, efficacy, or safety, in addition to providing attention to a critical unmet clinical need.

The 2014 MDEA Juror Panel selected 54 exceptional finalists in 11 medical technology product categories.Selected products excel in 5 areas: manufacturing and technological innovation; design and engineering advancements; patient benefits; business benefits; and overall improvement to healthcare industry.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at MD&M East’s main networking event—the 2014 Medical Design Excellence Awards ceremony. MD+DI will recognize the finalists and announce the Bronze, Silver, and Gold winners in each of the 11 medtech categories, as well as present the Readers’ Choice, Best-In-Show, Lifetime Achievement Awards, and more! RSVP during your MD&M East registration to reserve your ticket. Admission is FREE but donations are encouraged to benefit NCIIA’sBMEidea, a design competition for biomedical engineering university students whose winners will also be announced at the ceremony.