REPORT SECTIONS
Annually, infant mortality is recorded at 1million globally with 98% of this cases being in the developing world (National Center for Health Statistics -US. 2014). The documented cause for these deaths includes preventable and treatable complications which are linked to prematurity and low birth weight together with hypothermia. The proposed innovation thus seeks to solve this problem using the product- infant warmer.
Product or service description
The proposed innovation is an infant warmer. An infant warmer is a portable sleeping bag for infants which serves the purpose of an incubator. One thing about the infant warmer is the fact that it does not need electricity in order to function but instead, it uses water heating services. It is therefore, a cheaper alternative to standard infant warmers like the incubator, the hot coals, the hot water bottle, the light bulb and the thermal coal boxes. It also lacks movable parts and is simple enough to be operated by non-trained persons. Additionally, no maintenance is needed.
Product specifications
Sleeping bag dimensions (mm3): 510 x 240 x 40
Pouch dimensions (mm3): 370 x 210 x 10
Weight: 1.5kg
Heater dimension (mm3): 430 x 280 x 50
Recommended retail price: 140USD
Product functionality
The infant warmer consists of water heating services which provide heat to the infant. A pouch is used to hold the heated water at 37° C. The infant warmer also consists of a sleeping bag which is used for holding the infant alongside adjacent pouches in the warmer which sustain the heat. The pouch can sustain the heat in the warmer for up to 6 hours as it provides heat to the infant.
Source of idea
The premature birth of infants brings with itself countless challenges. To begin with, infants lack the requisite body fat needed for the regulation of their own body temperature as Serenius et al., (2013) opines. This means that the room temperature can be, and is quite cold for an infant.
As a standard measure, such infants are often placed on incubators or other alternatives up to the point when they can survive on their own. However, this standard procedure is a challenge in most developing countries as discoursed.
Competitor products-description
Infants born in developing countries lack the luxury that comes with using incubators. This is because of the high cost that comes with using one as Wall, et al., (2010) documents. Additionally, the use of incubators brings to the fore associate operation costs such as electricity, which is needed to power them. A well-documented fact regarding electricity power in developing nations is that at best, electric power is unstable and unreliable (Fukuda-Parr & Lopes, 2013). Furthermore, operating incubators calls for specialized training and ongoing maintenance. Most developing countries lack the necessary expertise to carry out regular maintenances of incubators. Indeed, other alternatives to address infant mortality have been fronted.
In this regard, alternatives to the incubator have been fronted including the radiant warmers. However, like the incubators, radiant warmers need electricity to operate in addition to the need of specialized training for their operation and alongside their regular maintenance. Therefore, this alternative is equally expensive.
Thermocol Boxes have also been fronted as alternatives to addressing the infant mortality issue. However, these boxes are ineffective in maintaining a constant body temperature. Hot coals have also been proposed as plausible innovation. However, these too is an ineffective innovation since it can lead to harms on the infant. An equally viable product aimed at addressing infant mortality due to thermal conditions is the hot water bottle. It has been argued that this product can reduce heat issues that infants face at birth. However, this too can scald an infant or overheat them and as such, are ineffective.
Finally, the light bulb has been fronted as a product that can address the pertinent t issue. However, this too is ineffective and equally needs constant electricity just like the incubator and the radiant warmers. As discussed, stable electricity supply is hitherto, a problem in most developing nations. In addition to this concern, bulbs can also shatter and cause harm to infants. Therefore, the proposed product-infant warmer, is an innovative product that aims at addressing the discussed problem.
Benefits to the customers
The proposed product is not only inexpensive, it is equally durable compared to most of the innovations and products in the market that seek to address the problem. The infant warmer costs less than 1% the cost of a standard incubator yet delivers the same service. Additionally, it is portable enough hence can be used by the infant even when being carried by the mother. Unlike the incubator, the infant is not confined to the hospital setup also. It’s equally a safe product and potential damages to the infant are negligible unlike the other innovations including the hot coals, the hot water bottle, the light bulb and the thermal coal boxes. Furthermore, the infant warmer does not require the use of electricity making it very cost effective for the target market of mothers in developing countries.
How the innovation creates value
Keeps infants warm hence reducing the risk of death
Helps nursing mothers to keep their cool and thus reduces the risk of postpartum depression
Makes weighing of infants easier
It’s easy to use and cheaper compared to other alternatives especially for nursing mothers in developing countries
No training needed for use and its maintenance
The problem of Infant mortality is addressed
References
Fukuda-Parr, S., & Lopes, C. (Eds.). (2013). Capacity for development: new solutions to old problems. Routledge.
National Center for Health Statistics (US. (2014). Health Risk Factors.
Serenius, F., Källén, K., Blennow, M., Ewald, U., Fellman, V., Holmström, G., & Olhager, E. (2013). Neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm infants at 2.5 years after active perinatal care in Sweden. JAMA, 309(17), 1810-1820.
Wall, S. N., Lee, A. C., Carlo, W., Goldenberg, R., Niermeyer, S., Darmstadt, G. L., & Lawn, J. E. (2010, December). Reducing intrapartum-related neonatal deaths in low-and middle- income countries—what works?. In Seminars in perinatology (Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 395- 407). WB Saunders.
