Brainlab Curve Wins Coveted Red Dot Award: Product Design 2012

FELDKIRCHEN, Germany, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Brainlab wins coveted 'red dot award.' Creative heads and manufacturers from all over the world submitted 4,515 designs altogether to the international product competition. Feature by benefit, Curve™ inspired the experts and received the globally sought after red dot in product design.

Curve embodies the latest in medical technology. This advanced surgical navigation system for the brain and body features the latest image guidance software powering advanced 3D displays. Curve incorporates great ergonomics, two game-changing, multi-directional touch terminals, digital HD, hi-fi and wi-fi(1).

"Using a human-centered design approach, we set out to challenge conventional surgical utility to help foster collaboration and potentially improve patient outcomes," stated Stefan Vilsmeier, President and CEO of Brainlab. "Curve represents thousands of enhancements based on years of feedback from our customers. Incorporating user feedback has always been a priority for Brainlab and has helped to produce the ultimate surgical navigation experience in design and functionality."

"The most distinguished products of the respective branches of industry faced up not only to the tough competition this year again, but also to the critical eye of the jury, explains Professor Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of the red dot design award. "The experts thoroughly examined, tested and evaluated each individual entry, applying the highest standards. With their performances, the laureates did not only demonstrate an extraordinary design quality but they also showed that design is an integral part of innovative product solutions. At this high level, the winners are able to increase their potential for success on the market considerably by purposefully using our design prize." 

The award winning products in the red dot design museum

Showcasing more than 1,500 products over 4,000 square metres of space, the red dot design museum accommodates the world's largest permanent exhibition of temporary design. From July 3 - 29, 2012, red dot again invites the world to visit the traditional special exhibition of the award winning products. In "Design on Stage - red dot award winners: product design 2012", enthusiasts can admire the latest trends at close range. Touching is explicitly requested and welcome: In this way, visitors experience live, the prizewinning design of Curve by Brainlab, on display in the breath-taking atmosphere of the one-time boiler house of the Zeche Zollverein, a former coalmine.

The red dot design award

The red dot design award, whose origins reach back to the 1950s, is carried out in three disciplines: 'red dot award: product design, 'red dot award: communication design' and 'red dot award: design concept'. In 2011 alone, more than 14,000 entries from over 70 countries were registered. The 'red dot award' itself is internationally established as one of the most appreciated quality seals for outstanding designs.

For further information please go to: http://www.red-dot.de/press/.

About Brainlab

Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that supports targeted, less-invasive treatment.

Among the core products are image-guided systems that provide highly accurate real-time information used for navigation during surgical procedures. This utility has been further expanded to serve as a computer terminal for physicians to more effectively access and interpret diagnostic scans and other digital medical information for better-informed decisions.

Brainlab solutions allow expansion from a single system to operating suites to digitally integrated facilities covering all subspecialties from neurosurgery and spinal surgery to orthopedics, ENT, CMF and trauma and oncology. With about 5,000 systems installed in over 80 countries, Brainlab is a market leader in image-guided technology.

The privately held Brainlab group, founded in 1989, is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and today employs 1,020 people in 17 offices worldwide.

To learn more about Curve™ Image Guided Surgery, visit http://www.brainlabcurve.com.

Media Contact:
Ursula Raffelt
Brainlab AG
+49-89-99-15-68-0

(1) FDA clearance pending