Opinion ID: 222928
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Changes to First and Second Prototypes

Text: In October 2002, at a trade show in Atlanta, Nidek presented Nihon Rufuto with a prototype of the oxygen concentrator. Nihon Rufuto was pleased with the prototype, but asked for some changes, including, inter alia, changes to the control panel, the positioning of a “cannula hook suction cup” and a “patient humidifier 2 We could locate no breckdown in the record of what part was for Nidek’s work and what part was for expense reimbursement for consultants. 7 bottle.” According to the notes of Paul Holman, Nidek’s project manager on the Unity Project, Nidek was to “continue to work on reducing component/unit vibration and noise” and, to that end, would “investigate the possibilities of reducing the tank boot intake size.” Between the end of 2002 and the Spring of 2003, Nidek revised the prototype based on Nihon Rufuto’s comments. In March 2003, Nidek sent a second prototype to Nihon Rufuto in Japan. In an email acknowledging receipt of the revised prototype, a Nihon Rufuto employee stated that the revised prototype was impressive and that President Ichida was “very happy about this workmanship.”3 The Nihon Rufuto email: (1) discussed changes to the location of the oxygen outlet and to the cannula check light, and (2) advised that Nihon Rufuto would “finish revising” and return the prototype to Nidek.