MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Design of patient bio-hazard suit

One-line solution summary:

Instead of single use bio-hazard protective equipment for medical teams I am suggesting low-medium level bio-safety suits for patients.i

Pitch your solution.

My approach is committed to solve existing problems with supply shortage of single use protective equipment for medical personnel facing Covid19 outbreak. Problem for personal protective equipment is with excessive need for regular change between treating patients, even in the case the patients are infected with same disease due to existing medical protocols, which are made to prohibit secondary infections, and due to possible damage and failure of equipment in prolong use. My system would isolate infected patient in low-medium level bio-hazard suite. That suit would be additionally equipped with bio-safety designed access gates for excrement removal, introduction of medicines, water and food, and medical examinations. It could be equipped with oxygen level saturation probe, but also with oxygen support system with creation of oxygen enriched higher pressure atmosphere and thermal regulation. System would benefit patient, but also reduce need for medical protective equipment, and possibly expand hospital treatment areas.

What specific problem are you solving?

My approach would solve the problem of protective equipment shortage, but also shortage of intensive care unit beds during Covid19 pandemic. Patients are affected due to high influx of corona patients and overwhelming of national Medical systems. Patients who are not infected with virus have problem of accessing needed medical care and intensive care units. That problem is global. So far over 3.5 million people have been tested positive on Covid19 virus, and over 300000 have succumbed to disease, many of whom unnecessarily just because of overwhelmed medical systems. Problem is generated with high infection rate of virus and fast spread that is effecting high percentage of population simultaneously.

What is your solution?

My solution is personal disposable isolation low-medium level bio protective suit for patients. It is isolating patient in own protective cocoon, from the first moment of diagnose and required medical treatment. It can be made of cheap materials similar to standard protective equipment, with additional elements for monitoring patients, creating oxygen rich atmosphere and ports of safe access for introduction of medicines, food and nursing. System could increase safety for medical professionals, but also for patients without virus who could potentially be treated in same intensive care wards without danger.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Solution is addressing stress on medical workers who need to follow strict bio-safety procedures. It would reduce, or even eliminate need for exchangeable single use protective equipment, reduce time between procedures, and open possibility for medical professionals to nurse multiple patients in same time. It would benefit infected patients, due to creation of simple oxygenated and controllable surrounding and possibly improve final outcome of disease. It would also benefit non infected patients who could be simultaneously treated in same ICUs. Thru engagement with medical practitioners, I will define needs that needs to be implemented in design. Also the required level of protection that would be sufficient for this level of bio-hazard.

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge.

System that I am suggesting is made from simple concept of reversing approach to existing problem and its standard solution. Using existing technologies and solutions and reshape them and quickly create alternative approach. This approach is out of box, but due its simplicity and obvious benefits, it is very applicable as solution for problems. It is aligning to Challenge requirements because it is addressing one of most urgent and most peril problem of today. Bio-hazard safety.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Melbourne VIC, Australia

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Nenad Stanojevic, Monash University Melbourne