Openwater - Reimagining diagnostics and therapy for a healthier future.
Openwater is transforming healthcare by turning what once required multi-million dollar MRI machines into portable, AI-powered systems that cost less than $1000. Using Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU), software, and hardware, they enable advanced treatments for cancer, stroke, and mental illness.
2025 - Good Design Award
2025 - IDEA Bronze
2025 - Dezeen Awards Longlist
2025 - SF Design Week Honoree
We partnered with Openwater’s founder Mary Lou Jepsen and her exceptional team of engineers to design their first generation of diagnostic and therapeutic platforms: Open-Motion, which uses laser light and holography to monitor blood flow and oxygenation, and Open-LIFU, an AI-driven ultrasound system for precise cellular therapy. Both required modular, patient-friendly designs that adapt to various medical applications and body parts.
A major challenge was the strap system, which needed to securely hold multiple modules in precise alignment on curved anatomy. We also focused on safety and usability, integrating features like a visual fiducial system for accurate positioning and ventilated, approachable enclosures, balancing clinical precision with patient comfort, dignity, and hope.
