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| Case Study |
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Patni helps client guarantee product reliability for
pacemaker communication device |
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By partnering with Patni, a medical technology leader established a comprehensive testing strategy which
helped it meet demanding quality needs.
The Client
The client is a $1.6 billion
global cardiovascular device
company. Its product
market includes
Pacemakers, ICDs,
Programmers, Mechanical
Valves and Leads.
The Challenge
One of the company's most popular products is the Programmer, a device used
by doctors during post-implantation follow up visits to communicate with the
pacemaker device implanted in a patient. The programmer helps in reading
diagnostic information from the device and internally implements a set of
Programming Logic rules based on the clinical specifications and system
requirements of the application.
As the product was in a category defined as life critical by the FDA, thorough
testing of the product was mandatory to ensure that the product would never
fail. However, in its quest to assure the utmost quality, the client was faced with
the following challenges:
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Inability to meet complex requirements of testing: There were more than
400 parameters and over 2500 rules defined in the Programming Logic
Requirement Specifications (PLRS) that governed the accurate functioning
of the next generation programmer, and in turn the device. These rules
were being developed within the system/development constraints as well
as the direction outlined by the marketing needs. As there were many
clinical interdependencies between the parameters based on defined
scenarios, it added to the complexity of testing the product |
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Inability to envision futuristic testing strategies: The client lacked the
ability to strategize future testing strategies for next generation
programmers and devices, such as Unity, which used Pentium IV chipsets
with Linux Operating Systems as opposed to the traditional Pentium II
chipsets with VxWorks.
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In addition, with the objective of developing reusable modules for future
pacemakers, the client had upgraded the Programmer's software from C to
Java. However, this transition made the legacy tools redundant. These
challenges were hampering the client's ability to launch a next generation
Programmer within a short timeframe.
Driven by the twin forces of competition and quality, the client decided to enlist
the services of Patni.
The Solution
Patni formulated an offshore testing strategy for the next generation
Programmer by modular verification of the business rules, which went
beyond mere black box testing.
Solution highlights include:
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Test automation was carried out using the Test Development
Environment (TDE), a testing tool developed by Patni for catering to
the specific requirements of the client. Additionally, Patni developed
a test data generation tool, AP Tool, which made automated script
development less time consuming and easier to maintain during
regression runs |
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Development of reusable components significantly reduced the test
execution time |
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Tracking test implementation of over 2500 rules was achieved by
the MVM toolset which was designed and developed using DXL in
Doors, which is the requirements repository for the client. Leveraging
Doors enabled the client to identify test sets for regression runs. |
The Technology
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DTM Boards,
Pacemakers, ICDs,
Programmer units
based on Pentium IV
chipsets with Linux
Operating Systems |
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Tools like TDE, JRules,
JViews, MVM Tool |
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Clear case, Clear
Quest |
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The Benefits
The testing strategies suggested by Patni ensured full test
coverage with maximum efficiency within the limits
promised to FDA by the client. Other significant benefits
include:
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Reduction in the testing efforts by 20%. This was
possible due to Test automation in the JRules test
harness and TDE using the test data generated by the
AP tool |
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Effective tracking, maintenance and execution of over
2500 test rules |
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Regression runs were made more efficient which in
turn reduced the testing efforts of incremental builds |
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Development of tools like TDE and AP Tools by Patni,
meant that technical support was always available inhouse |
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Significant cost reduction due to offshoring.
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