What is the name of your organization?
OriVa LLC
What is the name of your solution?
OriVa Port
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A reusable prosthetic for ostomates that aids continence, enables bag-free moments, and enhances autonomy for improved daily life.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
San Francisco, CA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Imagine a life where a plastic bag is a permanent fixture on your body – present during sleep, exercise, work, and even first dates. This is the reality faced by “ostomates,” the over 1 million individuals in the U.S. and roughly 13.5 million people globally who have undergone ostomy surgery. This transformative procedure alters how the body expels intestinal contents, often necessary when the bowel is diseased, injured, or absent. Surgeons create an opening, known as a stoma, connecting the intestine to the abdomen's exterior. The prevailing way to collect and dispose of this waste involves attaching plastic bags to the stoma that have to be worn 24 hours a day. Frequently reported challenges include poorly-fitting "one-size-fits-all" supplies, leakage of acidic stomal effluent and subsequent peristomal skin complications, and the high-costs of disposable equipment. The current global ostomy care and accessory market size is estimated at $3.87 billion with an expected CAGR of 5.47% from 2025-2030. This demand is further expected to grow, given the increasing prevalence of colorectal cancer and rising geriatric population. Despite a glaring need for innovation, the ostomy bag has remained the standard of care for over 70 years. What is the next disruption on the horizon?
What is your solution?
Co-designed alongside ostomates and world-class surgeons from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, the OriVa Port is a reusable, custom-fit device that draws on design principles from the field of prosthetics to disrupt the disposable pouch-dominated ostomy care market. Ostomates currently have little control over their stoma, given that it's continuously and spontaneously emptying waste into an external bag. Current market solutions, such as popular pouching systems, are outdated and stagnant. As designers and innovators, we recognized the need to approach the next frontier in ostomy care. The OriVa Port relies on 3D-scanning and novel lid-and-valve technology to: 1) Provide autonomy and control over the flow of waste. 2) Create a greater sense of continence for the wearer. 3) Act as an "artificial sphincter" of sorts. 4) Enable bag-free moments and offer extended reprieve. The sleek, custom-fit, and dignified design additionally accounts for associated stigma and aims to reduce the incidence of painful leakages. As advisor, ostomate, and OriVa inspiration Grace Matelich said in an interview with our founder, "Life is different now. But that doesn't mean it has to be worse or 'less-than'." Learn more: https://www.dyson.com/discover/sustainability/james-dyson-award/Secure-Medical-Port-For-Bag-free-Ostomy-Care-Wins-2023-USA-James-Dyson-Award and https://www.engineering.com/prototyping-the-gutsy-port-an-empowering-solution-for-ostomates/
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our prototype has received widespread interest from ostomates worldwide, including individuals from South Africa, Norway, Rwanda, India, Iran, Vietnam, New Zealand, and the UK, eager to learn about availability and participate in trials. Many users have expressed emotional and practical concerns about traditional bags, emphasizing issues with adhesives/fit, cost and product accessibility, and general discomfort. The responses highlight a significant demand for alternative solutions, with target users ranging from new ostomates being temporarily treated for colorectal cancer to long-term patients with chronic IBD seeking improved quality of life. Some are healthcare professionals and caretakers who see potential applications in hospital settings, while others are engineers and entrepreneurs interested in collaborating. Additionally, medical device manufacturers have reached out to explore potential partnerships. The overwhelming support and interest from individuals globally to participate in testing and development reinforce an urgent need. By prioritizing user needs/voices and continuous innovation, the OriVa Port has the potential to drastically improve ostomate daily life. As one user wrote, "For the millions of us worldwide, it would be such a blessing." See our map documenting expressed interest: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=18YahSKBoMsh-WILNebXOEtvO8NpdIsk&usp=sharing
