Innovations Item Code: IN-2024-2100571
Sector: Health/Telemedicine
Description:
Smart Biliwrapper is an innovative phototherapy device that addresses the global issue of neonatal mortality by solving the widespread condition of Jaundice in newborns. The Smart Biliwrapper is an enhanced, smart, mother-to-newborn bond phototherapy device for the effective treatment of jaundice in African neonates. It adopts sensor technology, blue LED light and locally sourced materials in a blanket form to be wrapped around the jaundiced neonate for treatment.
Stage of Innovation: Prototype (You have a working physical product)
Problem:
- Neonatal Mortality: According to Nigeria Statistics, one in every twenty-two newborns dies as a result of jaundice.
- Ineffective Therapy: During our visit to hospitals in Nigeria, we discovered that existing overhead phototherapy can only perform single phototherapy, hence the light is only shone on the front of the baby. Also, mothers usually remove their babies from the cot or incubators thereby breaking the therapy when they need to breastfeed or perform Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for their baby.
- Cost: Existing overhead phototherapy units are more than 300 USD. Biliblankets aboard are more than 3000 USD and not accessible to us in Nigeria.
- Prematurity: There is also the need to make premature babies mature which the existing product is not solving with the fact that 80% of preterm babies develop Jaundice in the first week of life.
Unique Selling Point: The current solution is the use of Overhead Phototherapy and Biliblankets. But they are ineffective and costly. The Smart Biliwrapper allows Kangaroo Mother Care to be performed simultaneously as it treats Jaundice in the process, encouraging mother-to-neonate bond. The Smart Biliwrapper would be affordable to hospitals because 80% of the materials used are locally sourced. Smart Biliwrapper achieves triple phototherapy, that is, the Blue LEDs are shining on the maximum surface area of the neonate’s body. The Smart Biliwrapper can be used during breastfeeding, in the incubator and at home. Smart Biliwrapper curbs light pollution in the hospital ward during therapy.