Mobile IV Case Competition
This project was one of my most fun, fast-paced, and comprehensive to date. A friend and I teamed up to take part in a UC Berkeley Medtech Collider Competition. We were given 6 weeks to design, prototype, and test a mobile IV bag case that would mechanically administer IV fluid to patients. In additional to prototyping a product, we had to identify a target market segment, distribution channels, and a go-to-market strategy. With hard work and persistence, we won 1st Place in the competition.
Medtech Collider Competition, UC Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entreprenuership
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Product Gallery
The Process
Market Segmentation
Drawing from research and previous experiences, we focused our work on lower-income contexts in India, where nurses often care for many patients at a time and lengthy hospital stays can lead to infections or other issues. By displacing burdensome IV poles and mobilizing patients, we envision IV-GO creating a less crowded, more organized hospital room where nurses can monitor patients more efficiently. Additionally, IV-GO will mobilize patients and thus help them recover more quickly so that they return home safely to their loved ones.
Design Research and Need Finding
We continued to interview and observe nurses and doctors in order to map out user needs. We then brainstormed and conceptualized design considerations to address each need.
User Needs
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Fluid should be delivered at a controlled,
constant rate -
IV system should be protected from
unintended forces -
Tubing should not tangle or kink
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IV Bag should be visible
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Mobile with the patient
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System should prevent air introduction to patient
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IV-GO should be quick and easy to administer
Design Considerations
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Roller & spring mechanism
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Protective and durable outer case
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Velcro attachment to redirect tubing
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Future: implement sensor to detect flow
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Clear front cover
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Body attachments, shoulder strap
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Tubing with air filter included
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Roller hooks for installation
Prototyping
Employing a user-centered approach and rapid prototyping technique, we developed a functional, elegant, and easy-to-use design.
Early Design Sketches
Design Iterations
Each prototype included improvements to the mechanism and form-factor. The biggest challenge involved detailing and tolerancing with 3D printing techniques in order to achieve accurate and consistent fluid delivery.
Testing & Validation
The most important metric for IV infusion is flow rate, measured in drops (abbreviated "gtt"). With our final prototype, we achieved a flow rate accuracy of 91% when compared to conventional gravity infusion.
The Final Design
First Prize Winner
My teammate (right), the competition organizer (center), and myself (left) after we were awarded 1st place on pitch day.