RKS, the Southern California-based ID consultancy, has just announced the launch of their new C2 ventilator, designed for Hamilton Medical. Based on recent studies from the Yale School of Medicine that emphasize, "the role of psychological factors [play an even bigger part in recovery] than expected," the C2 ventilator uses friendly shapes and minimal design to create a softer, more humane experience for the patient and visitor. Ravi Sawhney, RKS founder and C.E.O. noted,

When you see someone you love hooked up to these huge, industrial-looking machines, no matter what doctors say, a piece of you starts making funeral plans. That feeling can't help but affect everyone in the room.

It's always a welcome change to hear a design process inspired by emotions rather than dollars, and from the looks of this lil C2, we can't wait to see what the friendly futures of hospitals will look like...

See more images after the jump.