Eniware portable sterilizer
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: Eniware: Portable Power-Free Medical Equipment .
Infection prevention and room-temperature, power-free gas sterilization for medical instruments in under-resourced health care settings.
About You
About You
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Eniware
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, DC, Washington
Country where this project is creating social impact
India
Is your organization a
For‐profit
How long has your organization been operating?
Less than a year
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
We're still too new, but "watch this space!".
References - Please provide two references with a two-sentence biography, email address, and phone number for each
Dr. Daniel J. Carucci MD, MSc, PhD:
Dr. Carucci, is the President of Global Health Consulting, Inc. providing consulting services to for-profit and non-profit organizations, international NGOs, multilateral and service organizations who are working toward improving the impact of global health investments. As Vice President for Global Health at the United Nations Foundation, Dr. Carucci supported programs and fostered diverse partnerships to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and as Director of the Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, he oversaw a $200 million investment portfolio of research programs supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in cutting edge technologies directed at solving technical barriers to improved global health.
dan@globalhealthconsulting.com
Cell +1 (202) 607-7374
Dr. Linda Wright, MD, Deputy Director for Research for Mothers and Children; Director, Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Linda has been Deputy Director of the Center for Research for Mothers & Children (CRMC) since 2003, and between 1989 and 2003, she served as the Program Director of the Neonatal Research Network (NRN), a group of 16 academic medical centers that redefined neonatology as an evidence-based specialty. Dr. Wright provides a unique breadth and depth of expertise in the domestic and developing worlds and has strong ties to other NIH Institutes, funding agencies, non-governmental organizations, and industry.
Phone: 301-402-0830
E-mail: WrightL@mail.nih.gov
Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Idea (you're poised to launch)
How long have you been in operation?
Operating for less than a year
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Infection and disease transmission in clinics and hospitals afflict millions in the developing world. Sterile medical equipment can mean the difference between life and death. Healthcare associated infection rates in developing countries range from 15% to 40% or more. With the expansion of basic surgery,the problem grows as access to healthcare grows. Potentially lifesaving procedures tragically cripple or kill millions of men,women and children due to lack of affordable,effective sterilization of medical equipment. Safe,effective surgical interventions lower maternal/child mortality and morbidity. Individual health gains benefit the health of society;1/3 of injury-related deaths in the developing world occur in the most economically productive segment of the population - working adults.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Eniware has licensed a proven, effective NO2 gas sterilization technology from Noxilizer, Inc. NO2 sterilization works at room temperature without electricity. It can sterilize temperature and vacuum sensitive items such as pre-filled syringes and complex or delicate diagnostic devices as well as basic medical supplies in a short period of time. A portable, small-scale sterilization chamber consisting of a plastic bag or box and a simple way to release a small capsule of NO2 would enable healthcare workers to safely sterilize vital supplies anywhere at any time. This approach is scalable, both in terms of unit size and production. The simplicity of the concept provides for minimal training requirements, widespread use, expanded access to safe and effective sterilization, and cost-efficient function at the point of care. The Eniware solution is designed for low- and no-resource settings including disaster areas, conflict zones and hospitals and clinics in the developing world.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
The sterilization challenge is best understood as an ever-expanding effort to provide low-cost infection prevention and safe, high quality healthcare in any setting. Affordable and effective sterilization of medical instruments and devices addresses three interrelated challenges in global health:
1) Healthcare associated infections (HCAI)
2) Expanding basic surgical care
3) Preventing disease transmission: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases
However, resource-limited settings with poor access to reliable electricity and/or clean water inhibit community health workers from effectively sterilizing medical instruments. Eniware's proven technology and cost-effective sterilization will close that gap. For example, WHO estimates that 50 - 100,000 women annually develop obstetrical fistulas, and more than 2M women worldwide live with this devastating condition caused by tissue death during obstructed labor. Low-cost, reliable Eniware sterilization would enable trained birth attendants and community health workers to safely prevent fistula through caesarian section, as well as repair existing fistulas, without fear of contracting life-threatening infection. The ability to efficiently and effectively sterilize medical instruments and thereby expand access to safe, basic surgery is key to restoring these hundreds of thousands of injured women to health and productivity in their families and communities.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
In resource-limited and remote environments NO2 sterilization provides the ability to truly sterilize instruments and equipment independent of electrical power or other fuel sources. The system is compatible with a wider array of medical equipment than traditional hi-temp, steam autoclaves. The characteristics of the NO2 gas also provide considerable benefits compared with other gas steriliants like H2O2 and EO: NO2 can penetrate packaging and complex devices,it does not leave residue,it is not explosive and it sterilizes completely even at low concentrations. These traits will allow for an affordable,effective and adaptable sterilization system that requires very little training and can be deployed anywhere from rural and community clinics to field hospitals and disaster relief teams.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
Eniware's founder,Dr. James Bernstein,instantly recognized the potential for Noxilizer's patented ground-breaking gas sterilant technology to become a game-changer in under-resourced health care settings. When he learned that Noxilizer's business plan focused exclusively on sales to North American/European medical manufacturers and hospitals, Dr. Bernstein licensed the proven patented process for healthcare settings in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and for military and humanitarian uses worldwide. Originally developed by Noxilizer to sterilize heat- and water-sensitive high tech medical devices (such as endoscopes) in first world tertiary care hospitals,Eniware's room-temperature,power-independent adaptation of Noxilizer's NO2 sterilization has the potential to prove an unprecedented boon to community health workers,military first responders and disaster relief professionals,enabling fast,safe and cost-effective sterilization of medical instruments any time, anywhere.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
We are trying to improve health equity worldwide by improving access to basic surgery through infection protection and low-cost, power independent sterilization of medical equipment. We are particularly committed to reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality, to reducing the spread of infectious blood-borne diseases including HIV/AID and hepatitis, and protecting the lives, well-being and productivity of injured people everywhere.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Dr. Bernstein began building the Eniware team in November 2011. Currently we are working with Dr. Linda Wright of NIH's Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research toward clinical field trials of prototype models (one portable plastic bag, one tabletop hard case)in the NICHD settings in India, Kenya, Pakistan and Zambia. We will be partnering with university-based teams to develop the prototypes and with Noxilizer to lab test them for safety and effectiveness. Our integrated development model is designed to develop client streams and distribution/training partners as we develop and field test our prototype models. We are working with Dr. Dan Carucci and other experienced global health professionals to identify and build these partners. Right now we are at the "idea, about to launch" stage. Check back with us in a year and two years for evidence-based data on our impacts!
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
Marketing and distribution will be achieved through a phased strategy. Initial penetration will be through key partnerships with established humanitarian and global health programs such as Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF),the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC),UNICEF,Mercy Corps,Partners in Health(Harvard),the Dartmouth Global Health Initiative(GHI) and Gates Foundation HIV prevention grantees. Project partners acquire products for their own use and for local distribution, and train humanitarian responders and local healthcare providers in product use/maintenance. Here are 3 statistics we hope to positively impact: 350,000 maternal deaths from pregnancy complications, 2M women living with fistula, and neonatal infections 20x the rate of the developed world.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Establish academic partner(s) for prototype design
Task 2
Test and verify prototypes in partnership with Noxilizer
Task 3
Identify and build partnerships for distribution and training
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Clinical field trials of device(s) in partnership with NIH and CDC
Task 2
Finalize partner agreements to use and distribute device(s)
Task 3
Develop and coordinate field training protocols and supports
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
We are currently partnered with Noxilizer and NICHD. In the coming months we will hope to formally partner with an academic institution and the CDC for prototype development and a clinical trial. Next we will build out our partnerships to global health organizations, global health funders and disaster response/humanitarian relief organizations. Finally, we will partner with government/inter-governmental agencies including USAID, UNICEF and Ministries of Health.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your innovation? If so, where and why?
Our license is for health care settings in the developing world including Africa, Asia (except Japan)and the Middle East, and for military and disaster/humanitarian relief worldwide. Our first locations will be those for the clinical trials at Global Network sites in India, Kenya, Pakistan and Zambia. These sites have a particular commitment to data-driven, evidence-based practice. Plus they are incredibly open to working with us.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
We operate a lean and mean, high function fast-track team in our virtual office and on site in Washington, DC. We are highly collaborative with just enough ego to think we can pull this off, but not so much that we get in our own way. We are entrepreneurial in temperament with diverse and complementary skill sets. We are all committed to a shared vision of health equity and "doing good, better."
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
 | 62 weeks ago Myra Donnelley said: Great things are happening as we move forward with our project. We have connected with another wonderful company that has created a ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 66 weeks ago Myra Donnelley said: Ruchi.dass - Your kind words are much appreciated. Eniware has licensed a proven, patented NO2 gas sterilant technology from ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 66 weeks ago Myra Donnelley said: Dear Akila - Believe me, this is an easy slip to make. I did it once and nearly gave the team a collective heart attack. NO2 gas has ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 66 weeks ago Akila Maheshwari said: This idea is appealing as it is independent of power- electricity, and of water. I wanted to know about clinical trials done in the USA ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 66 weeks ago Dr. Ruchi Dass said: A link to your Vimeo video would have helped the commentators and judges.:) However, this is great stuff. Lawrence did mentioned that he ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 67 weeks ago Myra Donnelley updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Myra Donnelley updated this Competition Entry. |
| 67 weeks ago Myra Donnelley updated this Competition Entry. |
| 73 weeks ago Myra Donnelley updated this Competition Entry. |
| 73 weeks ago Myra Donnelley submitted this idea. |
