The future of nitrous oxide and oxygen delivery

Parker Hannifin / Porter

Porter MIDAS

A clinician wearing medical gloves operates a digital touchscreen flowmeter next to a patient in a dental treatment setting.

Transforming MIDAS into a connected, scalable clinical system

Parker Hannifin Porter set out to evolve MIDAS to meet the demands of modern clinical environments, where precision, usability and reliability must work seamlessly within increasingly complex workflows.

The Challenge

A dated, manual category in a changing clinical ecosystem.

The nitrous oxide and oxygen delivery market has historically relied on manual systems with limited feedback and flexibility. However, clinicians work within fast-paced workflows, across multiple environments, and under pressure where clarity and control are critical.

To meet these demands, MIDAS needed to move beyond traditional designs and become a more adaptable solution. One that aligns with real clinical workflows, transitions seamlessly across environments, delivers intuitive control under pressure, and is built for scalability and manufacturability from the outset.

Parker Hannifin / Porter Porter MIDAS equipment

The Solution

MIDAS introduces an intuitive touchscreen interface that improves how clinicians interact with nitrous oxide and oxygen delivery. It provides clearer feedback and greater control, while supporting a range of mounting configurations from wall to cart to cabinet.

Designed to work seamlessly across different environments, the solution offers a consistent and adaptable user experience that reflects the realities of clinical practice.

Parker Hannifin / Porter Porter MIDAS diagram

The Execution

Our team defined the first touch screen UI for a nitrous oxide and oxygen flowmeter, translating the user’s unmet needs with the current manual designs into new, but familiar and intuitive features.

Through multiple user studies, our team evaluated different design directions allowing use to define the best path forward from user input. Insights like separating certain key functions to be off-screen physical buttons allowed for a blend of physical and digital interactions.

These decisions were validated through a Human Factors (HF) study, where users completed tasks in a simulated clinical environment using functional prototypes. This ensured the design performs effectively under real-world conditions.

Parker Hannifin / Porter Porter MIDAS equipment in test lab

The Impact

Designing a new interface for a modern solution improves usability.

The introduction of a modern interface significantly improves usability and control in clinical settings. By grounding design decisions in user insight and validating them early, the risk of late-stage changes was reduced.

MIDAS is now better positioned as a scalable solution, supporting multiple configurations while maintaining a consistent user experience. This helped Parker/Porter bring an innovative product to market with greater confidence. The design was recognized with the prestigious Good Design Award in 2025.

“Collaborating on this project felt like working with an extension of our own team here at Parker/Porter. Providing expertise in Industrial Design, UI/UX, and Human Factors testing, Ensera Design worked seamlessly with our engineering team to develop a complete medical device capable of meeting and exceeding customer expectations.”

Seth Wolf

Engineering Manager

Parker/Porter

Speak to our experts about your unique challenge

Whether you’re identifying your next innovation priority, or looking to accelerate development of an existing concept, our team will have advice to help you move forward.

Tell us about your challenge