Para qué sirve
Airin is a medical instrument. It is designed to improve the quality of life and to shorten the stay in the hospital during the post-operative of an ostomy surgery thanks to an air isolation and its pumping system in an innovative closed circuit in this field.
Qué te inspiró
Our personal proximity to the world of medicine helped us to identify many problems that suffer ostomized people after the operation and during their normal life. We did a great research on the day to day of these patients and their emotional and physical needs. Finally we figured out that the two major problems (muco-cutaneous dyspnoea and stoma stenosis) arise after the operation, which surprised us, given that in Spain there are 13,000 new ostomates added annually to the current 70,000 and all over the world the figures are constantly increasing.
Cómo funciona
The silicone duct is lubricated and introduced manually into the stoma until it reaches its trunk, which will remain descendant inside the bag, leading the waste towards it. Once introduced, the exact amount of milliliters of air is injected into the motor box, which will inflate the rings of the duct Then the "ON" button on the Airin engine will be pressed, which will turn an endless screw from right to left alternately causing its plunger to move forward and backward respectively. Being two closed air circuits, the amount of air is always the same and through the movement of the engine, a very controlled movement is achieved. If the screw rotates to the left, the space on the left is reduced, therefore, there is less air, then the first ring swells. At the same time, the space on the right is widened, therefore, it is more air, then, the second ring is deflated, creating an alternate movement to avoid ulcers.
Proceso de diseño
Using the Design Thinking methodology and a study based in the User Experience, multiple interviews to users, experts coloproctologists, gastric surgeons, nurses, hospital directors and inexperienced (that gave us an objective view from other sectors), market studies and economic statistics, besides being in direct contact with professionals of the field at all times, contributed to validate our project and make Airin a reality. Our first contact with the topic, came from an interview with Dra. Crespo Doval, who told us about the problem and how she and her group of nurses used inappropriate instruments such as the Flexi-seal to isolate the wound from the continued contact with the stool, and an epítasis probe to stop the stenosis. Besides being instruments not thought for these circumstances they need to be used by a couple of specialists at the same time for a considerable time. We did a lot of research on engines, air circuits, water circuits, propellers and pistons to develop an engine that would move the exact amount of air we wanted, (with the forward and backward movement of an endless-screw connected to an engine ); in a closed circuit and alternately to avoid ulcers.
Qué lo hace diferente
Right now, there is nothing in the world like Airin that fulfills its function. Your driver's arm is inserted manually into the stoma until you reach your tube, which will lead the waste to the ostomy bag. Once introduced, air is injected through the motor box to the inflatable rings integrated in the driver arm, which will be responsible for isolating the wound from the feces and will move alternately with the oscillation of the motor. With Airin, post-operative recovery time is reduced from a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 45 days admitted to the hospital; at least 4 days and maximum 7 at home saving time and money to the patient and social security.
Planes para el futuro
Having into consideration the good feedback we received from the medical specialists who met Airin, our aim is to materialize it and to spread its use not only in Spain but internationally, since the number of ostomates is increasing, so will the need to use Airin. Nurses, doctors, surgeons and other specialists have already confirmed the great need of this instrument in the day to day of medicine, not only for patients, but also for them. Not only is there an interest in purchasing the project, but it also helps to develop it even further thanks to the intestinal nanometry offered to us in a hospital in northern Spain.
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