Jaundice, caused by hyperbilirubinemia or breast milk jaundice, affects sixty percent of all newborns worldwide. It can lead to long-term disabilities or even brain damage. It is caused by factors in the breast milk which prevent the baby’s liver from processing old red blood cells correctly. Phototherapy is a cost-effective treatment for this condition.

Detailed description of the solution

Firefly is a phototherapy device has been developed specifically for resource-limited settings. It provides both top and bottom phototherapy treatment while remaining low-cost. It ensures that the treatment is effective, despite changes in the baby’s position. It is designed to be easily maintained and disinfected, reducing the chances of infection for the infants.

Designed by

• Designed by: Design that Matters (DtM) and East Meets West
• Manufacturing: This device is manufactured by MTTS and is made in Vietnam

When and where it was tested/implemented

This device has undergone clinical trials at the National OB/GYN Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Funding Source

Design that Matters (DtM) receives numerous funding support from the following entities: (Full listing available here.)

• Alliance for Global Sustainability
• Ashoka Foundation
• Bridgeway Charitable Foundation
• Choate Hall & Steward LLP
• DLA Piper
• Draper Richards Foundation
• IDEO
• MIT IDEAS Competition
• MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
• MIT Media Lab
• MIT Public Service Center
• Museum of Science
• SolidWorks Corporation
• The Lynch Foundation
• Thanksgiving Fund
• USAID

References