Twelve percent of newborns need to receive immediate treatment for severe jaundice. This problem can be solved through the use of phototherapy treatment, but in low-income settings existing phototherapy options are often ineffective, costly, difficult to maintain, and improperly used.

Detailed description of the solution

Comet is a low-cost, high-performance, and compact jaundice treatment device intended to be used in rural clinics or as a backup for urban hospitals. This device is a cheaper, smaller and more energy-efficient device than Brilliance, another phototherapy device developed by the same design team. Comet utilizes high intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which provide the intense blue light to treat jaundice. Comet has a lifespan of 3-5 years, requires minimal maintenance, and is designed to retail at less than $150.

Designed by

• Designed by:Design Revolution: Design for the Other Ninety Percent
• Manufacturer (if different):
• Manufacturer location: Palo Alto, CA, USA

When and where it was tested/implemented

India and Nepal

Funding Source

Finalist in Saving Lives at Birth Competition One Heart World-Wide

References