In the medical technology sector, designing a truly future-proof product means moving beyond the concept of innovation as a one-time event and embracing a long-term vision, in which the device is conceived to evolve over time alongside the clinical, technological and regulatory context. A future-proof product is not merely upgradeable; it is designed from the outset as an open technological platform, capable of adapting to requirements that are not yet defined, integrating with future systems and maintaining operational value throughout its entire life cycle. In this scenario, future-proof design becomes a strategic design criterion, particularly relevant for complex environments such as operating rooms and high-technology clinical spaces.
RIMSA adopts this approach in a systematic way, integrating the principles of future-proof design with those of eco-design and translating them into concrete solutions for surgical lighting, suspended systems and operating room technological infrastructures. The objective is not only to extend product lifespan, but to ensure that each device continues to generate clinical, technological and economic value over time, reducing premature replacement, waste and operational constraints.
Training by RIMSA
Future Proof
Designing future-proof medical products
The RIMSA approach between eco-design, interoperability and sustainable innovation
Sustainability
In industrial and healthcare contexts, sustainability is the ability to design, produce and use products in a way that meets present needs without compromising future ones, balancing environmental, social and economic responsibility. When applied to product design, sustainability translates into durability, repairability, reduced resource consumption, containment of environmental impacts throughout the life cycle, and the creation of value for all stakeholders involved. It is not an isolated objective, but a structural criterion guiding long-term design and industrial choices.
Environmental impact
The environmental impact of a product represents the set of effects it generates on the environment throughout its entire life cycle, from production and use to end of life. This impact is assessed through standardized methodologies such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which quantifies resource consumption and emissions, and communicated through tools such as the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which provides verified and comparable data. Environmental impact analysis enables design choices to be oriented toward more efficient, durable and responsible solutions.
Environmental labels
Environmental labels are environmental communication tools regulated by ISO standards that classify environmental information associated with products. Type I labels (ISO 14024) are awarded by third-party organizations based on multiple criteria; Type II labels (ISO 14021) are manufacturer self-declarations; Type III labels (ISO 14025), such as EPDs, provide quantitative, LCA-based and verified data. These tools enhance transparency, comparability and credibility of environmental performance.
End of life, recyclability and reuse
The end-of-life phase of a product includes disassembly, reuse, recycling or disposal once its use has ended. Designing with end of life in mind means promoting material recyclability, component reuse and resource recovery, reducing waste and environmental impacts. In sustainable design, end of life is not a residual phase, but a core design criterion influencing material selection, modularity and repairability, in line with the principles of the circular economy.
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Future-proof design: scalability and adaptability over time
One of the pillars of the RIMSA approach is scalability, understood as the ability to expand specifications, performance and functionalities over time without replacing the product. For example, Unica series surgical lights are designed from the outset to integrate video systems. Healthcare facilities can install a fully functional light today and later add a camera simply by purchasing the dedicated module, without modifying the structure or operating room infrastructure. The initial investment remains valid while the product evolves in line with emerging clinical needs.
The same scalability logic applies to suspended structures and arm systems. RIMSA arms allow post-installation modification of lengths, movements and the number of installed elements. A single structure can therefore be reconfigured over time to support new devices, operational setups or models, while keeping the installed base unchanged. This approach makes the operating room a dynamic environment, capable of adapting to technological evolution without invasive structural interventions.
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Modularity as a strategy for durability and repairability
A second key element of future-proof design is modularity. Each product is composed of independent functional modules, designed to be replaced, upgraded or reconfigured individually. This principle directly improves repairability by reducing downtime and maintenance costs, while enabling native technological revamping strategies.
When new modules are developed, they can be integrated into already installed systems, transforming an existing product into an updated version without intervening on the entire structure. Modularity thus becomes a tool for technical and economic sustainability, allowing only truly obsolete or damaged components to be replaced and extending the overall service life of the device.
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Designing for updates: electronics with future potential
Another distinctive element of the RIMSA approach is the design of electronics for upgradability. Electronic systems are developed with computing and management capacities that exceed immediate requirements, enabling the future implementation of functionalities that are not yet envisaged. This makes it possible to address regulatory, clinical or technological evolutions through targeted updates, avoiding the complete replacement of the system.
Designing electronics with untapped potential means adopting a long-term engineering vision that counters planned obsolescence and recognizes the medical device as a durable technological infrastructure, intended to operate for many years in continuously evolving environments.
Revamping
Revamping refers to a set of technical and functional interventions aimed at updating, improving or reconfiguring an existing product or system, extending its service life without complete replacement. In medical and industrial fields, revamping may involve mechanical, electronic or software components and relies on modular design, interoperability and availability of upgrades. It is a key tool of future-proof design and ecodesign, as it allows products to adapt to new clinical, regulatory or technological requirements while reducing costs, waste and environmental impact. Thanks to RIMSA design principles, revamping is natively enabled without the need for external additions.
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Future-ready technologies: the example of 4K video systems
A concrete example of this approach is RIMSA’s video systems. All cameras are developed in 4K, while allowing users to select the most appropriate output format, such as Full HD. This enables asynchronous investment across operating room components: a 4K camera can be adopted today without immediately replacing monitors, recording systems or network infrastructure, nor reconsidering storage capacity or available bandwidth.
When technological or organizational evolution makes it appropriate, the transition to 4K is achieved simply by adjusting camera settings. The product anticipates the future without imposing it, allowing healthcare facilities to plan investments according to their priorities.
Open protocols and interoperability as a design choice
A fundamental element of RIMSA’s future-proof design is the deliberate choice to adopt open protocols and shared standards, avoiding proprietary architectures that limit integration and lock customers into closed ecosystems. In healthcare, interoperability is essential to ensure operational flexibility, technological continuity and long-term economic sustainability.
RIMSA shares the communication protocols of its devices with all stakeholders involved in operating room design and integration, enabling interfacing with third-party systems at no additional cost and without proprietary solutions. This approach allows RIMSA products to be integrated into any technological context, preserving freedom to evolve the operating room over time without artificial constraints. Open protocols reduce the risk of functional obsolescence, eliminate hidden costs related to licenses or dedicated interfaces and strengthen the value of the initial investment.
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Ecodesign, durability and corporate responsibility
RIMSA’s future-proof design is rooted in ecodesign principles, promoting products designed to last, be repairable and reduce environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. RIMSA devices are conceived for a service life of approximately 20 years, reflecting the expected pace of technological evolution rather than physical product limitations. Replacement, when it occurs, is driven by the introduction of radically new technologies, not premature degradation.
This approach is consistent with RIMSA’s commitment as a B Corp and with a stakeholder-oriented vision, where product value is measured not only in immediate performance, but also in positive impact on healthcare professionals, patients, the environment and communities. Designing interoperable, upgradable and durable devices means reducing waste, optimizing resources and contributing to a more sustainable healthcare system.
Ecodesign
The European Union’s Ecodesign Directive aims to reduce the environmental impact of products by acting directly at the design stage, recognizing that the main environmental consequences of a product are determined before it enters the market. The core principle of ecodesign is that efficiency, durability, repairability and end-of-life performance largely depend on initial design choices.
The first regulatory framework was introduced with Directive 2005/32/EC, followed by Directive 2009/125/EC, which introduced mandatory minimum requirements on energy efficiency and environmental performance. For many years, European ecodesign focused primarily on reducing energy consumption during the use phase.
With the evolution of European sustainability and circular economy policies, this approach proved insufficient. Issues such as durability, repairability, upgradability, modularity and reduction of obsolescence required a broader regulatory framework covering the entire product lifecycle.
This evolution culminates in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), progressively applicable from 2024–2025. The new regulation, directly applicable in all Member States, extends ecodesign requirements to a much wider range of products and introduces binding criteria on durability, repairability, reuse and recyclability. A key element is the introduction of the Digital Product Passport, providing essential product information throughout the value chain.
The 2025 revision marks a fundamental shift: ecodesign is no longer limited to energy efficiency, but becomes a strategic tool guiding industry toward products designed to last and evolve, making sustainability a structural requirement of the European market.
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RIMSA, pioneer of future-proof design
Integrating scalability, modularity, upgradability, interoperability and ecodesign into complex medical products requires a long-term vision and a corporate culture oriented toward responsibility. RIMSA interprets these principles not as constraints, but as opportunities for innovation. Each product is designed to accompany the evolution of technology and clinical practice, maintaining value over time and generating a positive impact on the healthcare ecosystem. In this sense, RIMSA does not simply adopt the concept of future-proof design, but pioneers it, transforming values and sustainability into concrete solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare.
RIMSA’s commitment turns future-proof from a technological promise into a concrete responsibility toward the market and the community.
