Iron Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design · 2022
Esc Syringes Transport Container
by Eric Lalande
- A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Eric Lalande
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 19,041
- Verification code BE3AB39E37 · Verify this award
About Esc Syringes Transport Container
The Emergency Syringe Capsule Esc enables caregivers during vaccination campaigns to prepare in advance up to ten prefilled syringes for distribution. The Esc will provide a controlled environment with the help of a color-changing cold pack for up to five hours. It can also be used by emergency response teams during a crisis or various special circumstances. The design is intuitive and relies on visual cues to facilitate interactions between caregivers.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Under special conditions, there can be a need to distribute prefilled syringes to caregivers. The Emergency Syringe Capsule provides protection and a temperature-controlled environment for ten syringes. A color-changing cold pack offers visual cues to assess the internal temperature of the capsule quickly. The ESC also includes various security features to alert users of potential tampering. The ESC makes it possible to centralize the storage and distribution of vaccines during immunization campaigns.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 200 mm x 125 mm x 58 mm (7.87 in X 4.92 in X 2.28 in).
130g with ten filled syringes (0.29 lbs). - Tags
- vaccine, syringe, cold, pack
- Production Technology
- - Nontoxic color-changing cold pack indicating syringes temperature.
- Protection from UV rays and light.
- Does not require a power source or additional temperature monitoring device.
- Replaceable parts.
- Compact, stackable, can be stored vertically (for specific medication requirements).
- Standoffs prevent heat transfer when placed on warm surfaces. - Design Challenge
- The main challenge was to offer a solution that would be useful for a wide variety of users.
•Emergency response teams
•Search and rescue
•Red Cross
•World Health Organization
•Medical transport services
•Hospitals (during surgeries or for emergency purposes)
•Research facilities
•Immunization campaigns - Project Duration
- This project was designed from December 2021 thru January 2022 in Sainte Therese, Quebec, Canada.
- Operation Flow
- A color-changing cold pack offers visual cues to assess the internal temperature of the capsule quickly. This feature ensures the syringes will stay at a safe temperature for up to 5 hours. The ESC also includes various security features to alert users of potential tampering. The syringe's locations are identified numerically and by colors making communication between caregivers easier.
- Inspiration
- This project was inspired by my personal experience when receiving vaccines. The caregiver had to manipulate various vials and fill syringes one by one. A possible gain in efficiency could be achieved in the case of vaccination campaigns. Preparation of syringes could be centralized and prefilled kits distributed to caregivers.
Colors of Esc Syringes Transport Container
Grand Interview about Esc Syringes Transport Container
Under special conditions or extreme circumstances, pre-filled syringes can need to be transported and distributed to caregivers in various locations. These situations could be major disasters, offsite medical interventions, or immunization campaigns.The ESC provides protection and a temperature-controlled environment for ten 1ml syringes. A colour-changing cold pack offers visual cues to assess the internal temperature of the capsule quickly. This feature ensures the syringe's content will stay at a temperature ranging from 2 to 8 degrees F for up to 3 hours. The capsule also includes various security features to alert users of potential tampering.
I was concerned with the overall size of the casing. That limitation resulted in the number of syringes. The device was designed to be held with one hand, and temperature control was mandatory for such a product.
During a recent vaccination campaign, I was able to witness how the entire vaccination process could be complex (from the preparation of syringes to the administration of various vaccines). It was obvious to me this process could be facilitated by a new tool allowing in advance the preparation of syringes. These could then be stored in kits in refrigerators and distributed as required with constant temperature monitoring.
The container is built around the modularity of spaces. When a tamper-proof seal is installed on the main access panel, no syringes can be reached without removing the seal or destroying the casing. In both cases, it appears evident some form of tempering has occurred.
This product had to be useful for emergencies and at the same time for organized vaccination campaigns. Both situations required different specifications based on the speed of distribution. First respondents need characteristics maximizing the resistance of the container and its content in harsh conditions. For mass vaccination, the storage and temperature control of the pre-filled syringes was taking priority.
I based my design on an extreme hypothetical scenario: What if a group of people were trapped underground (in a collapsed mine for example)? How can we provide medication or vaccines in various pre-filled syringes in the most effective manner? The idea of this “box” was to simplify the distribution and management of medication. In the absence of medical staff, anyone could select the right syringe for a certain situation by colour code or numbers on the storage compartment.
Various variants of the ESC could be envisioned to answer other needs or other markets. The content could be varied and the overall size could be modified. There are multiple needs this design could satisfy. I have two other versions of the ESC: One for surgical rooms and one for vaccine transport.
Since this product can be sterilized via autoclave, for example, all parts can be removed and reassembled in case of damage. A medical facility could purchase a certain number of units and maintain a constant number of operating capsules by “recycling” via mix and match of individual parts. This could reduce the operating cost when deployed in large numbers.
The temperature of the syringe holder guided the development of this product. This is a critical element in vaccine management. My goal was to provide a simple solution not requiring electrical power or sensors. It also had to be intuitive. Communicating vital information via Color was the obvious choice.
That's a very interesting question. What I am most proud of in this design are the various intuitive features. With minimal information or training, anyone can operate this product with maximum results. This is probably a major aspect of future medical equipment: Simple and intuitive designs.