Portable instrumentation is characterized by its small size and ability to be easily transported. The criteria for IBO’s Design Awards for portable analytical instruments is a weight of under 15 lb and the ability to be quickly and easily moved. The industrial designs of this year’s winners embody portability, with innovative designs that are notable for their eye-catching appearances and compact sizes. The design choices communicate playfulness, which appeals to users and communicate ease of use, including ease of transport—an important differentiator for these technologies and a requirement for optimal usage in their targeted applications.

Gold Award

The IBO Gold Design Award for portable analytical instrumentation goes to Nippon Instruments’ EMP-2 Mercury Survey Meter. A UV atomic absorption spectrometer, the EMP-2 is designed for on-site measurement of mercury vapor concentration in real time down to 0.1 µg/m3. The system advances the industrial design of portable spectrometers, employing a streamlined, colorful, hands-free design. The EMP-2 measures 265 x 128 x 110 mm (10.4 x 5.0 x 4.3 in) and weighs 1.8 kg (4 lb). It is available in aqua blue, forest green or sun orange.

Jason Gray of Nippon Instruments North America told IBO it took 18 months to develop the EMP-2, with all of the work done in-house. “A preceding version of this product (EMP-1A) was already widely accepted and used in many industries around the world, so the goal for the EMP-2 was to make drastic improvements in the ergonomics, functions and level of user-friendliness,” he said.

The highest priority was to reduce the dimensions and weight, which was decreased by more than 30%. “Another priority was the user interface, and this was improved by the implementation of a high-quality, touch-screen interface, which also allowed for more functions to be included, such as the ability to use the EMP-2 for water samples as well as LPG and LNG gases,” said Mr. Gray.

Key features are based on customer feedback. Hands-free operation is enabled by a built-in shoulder sling and waist belt. “[Industrial clients] are required to maintain three points of contact when climbing, so they need their hands to be completely free in this instance, and this is why we designed the EMP-2 to fit close to the body with hands-free operation,” said Mr. Gray. Durability in the field is also important. “The EMP-2 was designed with materials that are resistant to corrosive gases, and it also has a seamless design that makes it ‘water tight’ for operation in wet environments.” The 3.5-in color touch screen is easy to read and operate. It has a large digital display and a start/stop button. “This makes the interface very simple to work with and also allows for many new functions,” said Mr. Gray.

Silver Award

The winner of IBO’s 2011 Silver Design Award for portable analytical instrumentation is RheoSense’s µVISC viscometer. The bright color, rounded corners and sleek profile of the µVISC creates a friendly look, communicating ease of use and approachability. Compared with the industrial and drab appearance of many viscometers, the µVISC has a novel appearance that emphasizes its unique technology.

The µVISC is built on RheoSense’s microfluidic chip–based viscometry technology. It measures 210 x 63.5 x 140 mm (8.25 x 2.5 x 5.5 in) and weighs 0.7 kg (1.5 lb). The µVISC measures viscosities from 0.2 cP to 5,000 cP with different sample cartridges. Only 100 µL of sample is required.

The design also simplifies user interaction. To operate the system, one simply snaps the pipette containing the sample horizontally into the holder and pushes a button. A large display screen, three primary buttons and a numerical touch pad provide a familiar interface that makes for simple operation. Use of a disposable pipette eliminates the need for cleaning.

Bronze Award

Digital Bio’s JuLI Smart Fluorescent Cell Analyzer is the winner of the Bronze Design Award for portable instruments. The optical microscope is specially designed for live-cell imaging and fits in an incubator or tissue culture hood. The JuLI measures 220 x 375 x 220 mm (8.7 x 14.8 x 8.7 in) and weighs less than 5 kg (11 lb). The LCD touch screen provides easy control.

The curve of the system’s neck is balanced by the square touch screen and echoed in the round platform, stand and focus button. The spare, open design allows for easy operation and sets it apart from traditional microscopes, making for a modern look suited to innovations in cellular research and instrumentation.