The British Design Council brought together a group of creators to develop product ideas to help reduce the spread of contagious diseases in clinics through design alone. Recently, the results of the collaboration were presented to the public and now can also be seen online.
Here are the prototype ideas created for the project:
* A ‘21st century commode’ (portable toilet) which is easy to take apart for cleaning, and which practically eliminates the hard-to-clean gaps and joins that characterise current designs.
* A redesigned porter’s chair which is durable, comfortable, and cleverly uses design to make it easy to clean while reducing the number of obvious user ‘touchpoints’ where infection can be spread.
* An ‘intelligent’ mattress which changes colour when it becomes compromised by body fluids.
* A patient bedside system comprising bedside storage and over-bed table which eliminates hard-to-clean corners, is made of special durable, scratch-resistant materials, and is easier for patients to use unaided.
* A unique new patient chair which pioneers a system of magnetised, removable cushions with easy-change laundered covers that make the chair clean, safe and comfortable.
* A self-timing cannula (tube for delivering fluids to the patient) with an indicator telling staff when the intravenous line needs to be changed.
* A curtain clip – handles for cubicle curtains which, through a unique design and magnetic mechanism, provide an easily sanitised ‘grab-zone’ and also keep the curtains securely closed.
* A wipeable, polythene-covered blood-pressure cuff with magnetic closures, instead of hard-to-clean Velcro fastenings.
Press release: Prototypes of innovative new designs for existing hospital furniture and equipment, aimed at helping the fight against MRSA and other Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), will be unveiled today by the Design Council
Link: Design Bugs Out @ Design Council
Flickr image sets of the prototypes here and here..
(hat tip: Core77)
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