Making Every Breath Easier: User-Centered UX Design for High-Flow Oxygen Therapy
With the HAMILTON-HF90, Hamilton Medical enters the high-flow oxygen therapy market with a new distinct device. Milani developed the intuitive user interface, translating complex clinical requirements into a safe, flexible, and user-friendly experience for both caregivers and patients.
The challenge: A Bold Step into a New Clinical Market
Hamilton Medical, a global leader in intelligent ventilation solutions, set out to expand its portfolio with a device for high-flow oxygen therapy. The ambition: to create a system that functions seamlessly across demanding environments such as emergency rooms, ICUs, and intermediate care units. Entering this space required more than engineering expertise – it meant navigating unfamiliar clinical terrain and called for deep user insight and a design process capable of turning complexity into clarity. To meet this challenge, Hamilton partnered with Milani Design & Consulting to co-develop a solution that would stand out in a new market while delivering measurable value in everyday clinical practice.
Our approach: User-centred design around the Realities of Care
Milani brought user understanding into the process from day one. Our team visited hospitals across the US and Europe to observe caregivers in action and explore diverse care contexts. From workflow needs to design pain points, we identified what truly mattered to users. These first-hand insights laid the foundation for a user-centered innovation process that shaped every design decision – translating real-world needs into a purposeful interface architecture.
In close collaboration with Hamilton, we conducted early usability studies to explore multiple interface concepts using wireframes and functional prototypes. Iterative testing with a broad range of users – including nurses, respiratory therapists, and physicians – helped refine interaction flows and provided Hamilton with clarity, validation, and confidence throughout the development journey.
The result: A flexible, friendly interface for novices, experts, and patients
Milani led the UX and UI development of the HAMILTON-HF90 from initial sketches to the final product. The goal: to design a user experience that inspires confidence and makes advanced respiratory care more accessible and intuitive – whether in high-pressure emergency scenarios or routine clinical use.
The result is a dual-layer interface that adapts to varying user needs: a simplified view for routine operation and a more detailed mode for expert users. Clear visualizations, virtual alerts, and smooth multi-touch functionality – even when wearing medical gloves – ensure safety, clarity, and responsiveness. For power users, the system supports in-depth analysis of patient trends and up to 72 hours of data tracking, enabling more informed, data-driven decision-making.
But the HAMILTON-HF90 is more than a technical device. As it is often constant presence in the patient’s environment over extended periods, Milani embedded user-centric thinking into every detail, prioritizing comfort, clarity, and mobility. The friendly color palette and adaptive brightness contribute to a calm, reassuring experience for patients, while supporting focus and decision-making in clinical settings. The system is further enhanced by ergonomically optimized nasal cannulas, also designed by Milani, which ensure maximum comfort and round out the therapy solution.
By embedding user needs into every stage of development, Milani helped Hamilton Medical confidently enter a new market segment – offering clinicians a smarter, more intuitive way to deliver life-saving therapy.
