Kidney disease remains one of the most formidable healthcare challenges in the United States, affecting an estimated 15% of the adult population, or roughly 37 million people. The economic burden is staggering, costing the healthcare system approximately $100 billion annually. Despite its prevalence and the severe financial and health implications, kidney disease is typically diagnosed in its later stages, leaving millions with limited early intervention options. 

Metyos is dedicated to making biological data accessible to everyone, aiming to save lives and enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals. They develop a bio wearable monitoring device that provides effortless monitoring of kidney health. This device enables personalized data collection without the need for invasive procedures like blood draws, empowering users to manage their kidney disease in its earliest stages.

Facilitating Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Metyos’ innovative device features painless micro needlesmicrocones that gently access the skin's interstitial fluid, allowing for medical-grade quality measurements directly from a user. Measurements are then transmitted via Bluetooth to a user’s smartphone, and concurrently, to their doctor. 

Rapidly testing new ideas and iterating on designs for this device was critical for Metyos. However, managing and synthesizing contributions from diverse disciplines including mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers presented a significant challenge. The team needed a process to drive efficient collaboration without relying on email, spreadsheets, manual file exchanges, and other traditional methods. 

To address these challenges, Metyos utilized key capabilities within Altium 365 to streamline their design review and collaboration process, including: 

• Browser-based Access and Sharing - Altium 365’s web-based platform enabled members from all engineering disciplines to access hardware project files directly from their browsers. This capability allowed team members to measure, search, cross-probe, and comment on electronic designs from any device.
• Asynchronous Design Reviews - The digital capture of design markups and feedback, attached directly to relevant design files, provided full traceability throughout the team’s development lifecycle. This was particularly crucial for a medical-grade device, where each iteration and decision must be meticulously documented and tracked.

MCAD CoDesigner - Metyos’ device needed to be medical-grade and capable of attaching snugly to the skin, which created significant space constraints. Their team used MCAD CoDesigner to synchronize design changes between Altium Designer and the team’s MCAD system to ensure that electrical and mechanical components were perfectly aligned.

Maximizing Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness

For an early-stage startup like Metyos, managing time and financial resources efficiently is critical. The high costs associated with engineering hours spent troubleshooting or navigating cumbersome software can significantly impact a startup's budget and delay development. 

To maximize efficiency, Metyos adopted several solutions from Altium that streamlined their design process to save valuable engineering time, including:

BOM Management - This capability allowed Metyos to make informed decisions during part research and purchasing by integrating availability, compliance, risk, and cost data from leading parts providers, including Octopart, SiliconExpert, and IHS Markit. Metyos also proactively managed their BOM with checks that alerted the team about part availability issues before it impacted their production schedule.

Manufacturing Collaboration - Altium 365 facilitated seamless collaboration with Metyos’ manufacturing partner. They were able to share a version-controlled release package with their manufacturer, who could then access and comment on output files from any browser, ensuring that all communications were centralized and attached to the design.