For over two decades, a U.S.-based medical device manufacturer has established itself as a leader in developing synthetic organs for transplant and research. Operating at the cutting edge of regenerative medicine, the company requires robust, high-performance solutions that align with strict product standards and demanding operating conditions. Their incumbent HMI solution failed to meet expectations in reliability, expandability, and ruggedness. To maintain their leadership position and eliminate costly downtime, they turned to Premio’s VIO-212-PC100-EHL — a modular, rugged touch panel PC built for extreme reliability in mission-critical environments.
Challenges
- Reliable Touch Operation With Gloves On
- Hot-Swappable Storage for Air-Gapped Systems
- AI Workload Readiness for Future Scalability
- Minimum of 3x Serial Ports for Peripheral Integration
Solution
- Premio’s Rugged IP65 Industrial Touchscreen computer (VIO-212-PC100-EHL)
- Glove-compatible IP65 front panel with 7H hardened glass and IK07 impact resistance
- 2.5" SATA hot-swappable drive bay for maintenance without downtime
- M.2 B-Key slot for AI accelerator integration (e.g., Hailo)
- 2x native COM ports with optional bracket for 2 additional serial ports
Benefits:
- Preloaded proprietary OS for faster setup and easier integration
- U.S.-based engineering for configuration, customization, and testing
- Fast turnaround and smooth transition to full production
Company Overview
A U.S.-based regenerative medicine company is pioneering bioengineered organs using a patented process that transforms discarded animal organs into transplantable human ones. To support clinical trials and cGMP manufacturing, they rely on rugged, purpose-built computing systems that can operate reliably in clean-room environments, enable real-time monitoring, and withstand strict sanitation and uptime demands.
The Challenges
Reliable Touch Operation with Gloves
In sterile or cleanroom environments, operators often wear gloves during machine interaction. The existing system’s touchscreen struggled to register accurate inputs through gloves, slowing workflows and increasing operator frustration.
Hot-Swappable Storage for Air-Gapped Systems
For security and compliance, the customer’s systems operated in air-gapped networks, requiring physical drive swaps for updates and maintenance. Without hot-swappable storage, these procedures caused extended downtime and disrupted operations.
AI Workload Readiness for Future Scalability
The customer planned to integrate AI-powered analytics into their workflows in the future. Their current hardware lacked the expansion options needed to accommodate AI accelerators, limiting long-term scalability.
Minimum of 3x Serial Ports for Peripheral Integration
Multiple connected peripherals, including specialized medical devices, required at least three serial connections for stable, direct communication. The existing solution lacked sufficient native COM ports, forcing the use of external adapters and complicating system design.
The Solution
Premio’s Rugged IP65 Industrial Touchscreen Computer (VIO-212-PC100-EHL)
Powered by Intel® low-power embedded processors, the VIO-212-PC100-EHL combines performance and energy efficiency for mission-critical IoT and edge applications. Built on Premio’s patented MDM (Modular Design Method) technology, the system offers unmatched flexibility—allowing the display module to be paired with either an embedded PC unit or a display control module. This modular approach enables hundreds of configuration options, simplifies upgrades, and reduces total cost of ownership for long-term deployments.
Glove-Compatible Rugged Front Panel
Engineered for sterile and cleanroom environments, the front bezel meets IP65 standards, with 7H hardened glass and IK07 impact resistance. This ensures the touchscreen remains highly responsive even through gloves, while withstanding daily sanitation and protecting against dust, moisture, and physical wear.
Hot-Swappable Storage for Maximum Uptime
Equipped with a 2.5" SATA hot-swappable drive bay, the VIO-212-PC100-EHL allows drives to be replaced or updated without powering down the system. This feature is critical in secure, air-gapped environments, where every minute of uptime is essential to maintaining operational flow.
AI-Ready Expandability
An integrated M.2 B-Key slot supports the addition of AI accelerators such as Hailo, enabling real-time edge inference and analytics. This future-proofs the deployment, giving the customer the flexibility to scale computing capabilities as AI-driven workloads become part of their processes.
Scalable Serial Connectivity
The system includes 2x native COM ports, with the option to add 2 more via an I/O bracket. This ensures the minimum of three serial connections required for direct, stable communication with multiple peripherals—reducing the need for external converters and simplifying integration.
The Benefits
Preloaded Proprietary OS
Premio preloaded the customer’s proprietary OS image before shipment, streamlining setup and allowing the systems to be deployed immediately upon arrival, reducing on-site integration time.
U.S.-Based Engineering Support
Local engineering teams in Los Angeles worked closely with the customer on configuration, customization, and validation testing, ensuring the solution met exact application needs and performance expectations.
Fast Turnaround to Full Production
Close collaboration and rapid response times minimized delays during the evaluation phase, enabling a smooth and efficient transition to full production deployment.
Conclusion
By partnering with Premio and deploying the VIO-212-PC100-EHL, this synthetic organ manufacturing leader gained a rugged, glove-compatible, AI-ready HMI that met their strict reliability and compliance standards. The solution’s modular flexibility, hot-swappable design, and engineering-backed customization make it the ideal platform for scaling medical-grade systems in secure, demanding environments. With Premio as a trusted hardware partner, the customer is now better positioned to continue advancing regenerative medicine — without compromising on quality, uptime, or performance.