Title
Screening and Examination Digital Audiometer
Microcontroller technology halts sales decline
Technologies used

Microcontroller

Industrial sector (PRODCOM code)
    331 Medical Instruments
Abstract
EYMASA is a 9-employee Spanish company founded in 1985 that designs, produces and sells medical equipment for the ENT (ear- nose- throat) speciality at his single site in Barcelona. Products include ENT furniture, spirometer and impedancemeter, but core business is focused on the design, development and manufacturing of audiological equipment (audiometers, related furniture, silent booth, etc) for hospitals, dispensers and ENT facilities in general. Sales of audiometers in 1997 were of app. 850 K€.

EYMASA has a long-time experience in designing and manufacturing audiological equipment, including acoustic and analogue electronic design. But the old audiometers were based on analogue technology, and were quickly becoming obsolete, with sales decreasing as they could not provide the advanced functions demanded by the users, like easy programmability, advanced performances and interfacing with a PC. This led the company to the use of microcontroller technology.

With this AE, the company introduced for the first time digital technology in their products, developing a digitally controlled audiometer, based on a microcontroller. The use of digital technology allows a much higher functional complexity, better performance, a much more user friendly interface, modularity, PC connectivity and better reliability, all within a competitive price. The company learnt to select the appropriate microprocessor while refining the PCB layout in terms of EMC compliance. This expertise will be used in subsequent improvements of the product line.

The planned project duration was ten months. There was an overrun of two months mainly due to the long delivery time of certain critical components and a change of PCB manufacturer. The project cost was 48 K€, 8% above planned. The company expects to recover the investment done in the project development, industrialisation and marketing costs in 20 months. The Return of Investment (ROI) over a 3-year period is estimated around 270%.

The company is entirely pleased with the project results. The new product is now being tested at the National Health system.
Company
EYMASA
Montmany 40 , bajo
08012 Barcelona
Detailed information
You can also benefit from microelectronics

Microcontroller technology provided EYMASA with the means of improving its products and enhancing its market position. You can also achieve significant benefits by acquiring the right microelectronics technology and utilising it in your product or manufacturing process. You can get help from FUSE to realise this.

FUSE is a technology transfer programme, funded by the European Commission to stimulate the wider use of microelectronics technologies by European enterprises to increase their competitiveness and enhance their economic growth. The demonstrator described here is one of many examples in the public FUSE portfolio covering the whole spectrum of microelectronics technologies and spanning a wide range of applications and industry sectors.

FUSE provides you with:

  • Best practice in acquiring specific microelectronics technologies and conducting full development projects through the FUSE portfolio of real life demonstrator documents.
  • Local training and expert support to plan your innovation realistically and help you conduct your project successfully.

Further information and support relating to this and other demonstrators can be obtained from the addresses below.
Further information   Guiding Technology Transfer Node
For further information and support regarding this case study, please contact a Technology Transfer Node (TTN) in your region.
Homepage: http://www.fuse-network.com
COTEC
C/Marques De Urquijo 26, 1 C, Izq.
E-28008 Madrid
Spain