Anesthesia Translations – Project Brief:

Argos Multilingual completes numerous medical translation projects for pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies around the world. One such medical device manufacturer contracted Argos to perform a complete product package translation (including user manuals translation, datasheets translation, software strings for user interface translation, QRG translation, marketing brochures translation and PowerPoint translation).

Our client had one primary concern; proper Terminology Management of medical acronyms used during translation.

The Problem:

When Argos began updating the received content, we found inconsistencies in the use of medical acronyms throughout the documents. Questions came up whether to use the localized acronym, an English acronym with the translation in brackets, or whether to translate based on clinical familiarity with the specific forms. The issue was made more complex when noticing that some acronyms were in the form of ‘key’ labels (which wouldn’t change during localization), while others were UI items for localization.

In an effort to standardize the required terminology, Argos proposed a unique solution, meeting our client’s requirements and eliminating the problem.

The Solution:

Argos created a comprehensive terminology database that included context information for each entry. New terms were to be approved through an online interface by the client’s in-country reviewers. The list was automatically applied throughout all of this client’s projects using specialized translation software.

In the end, the anesthesia translation project for anesthesia system and monitors consisted of over 30,000 words of content that were adapted into: French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Portuguese, Portuguese Brazilian, Dutch, Turkish, Greek, Chinese and Korean, in under 6 months.

For reference, translators used simulation software for UI translations combined with screen shots.

Regular workflows were drafted that involved teams of translators, reviewers, QA specialists and client’s own in-country reviewers who performed final checks.

As the client also decided to utilize CAT tools throughout the course of the project and had various terminologies ready, Argos used TM tools across all work saving our client an additional 40% of the translation costs.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry – Medical Devices

2. Type of Product – medical device marketing materials

3. Type of Project – translation, review, QA, Localization and DTP

4. Languages Involved:

French Italian German Spanish Russian Dutch Turkish Greek

Hungarian Polish Czech Portuguese Brazilian Portuguese Chinese Korean

5. Amount of Work: over 30,000 words

6. Time Frame: 6 months