SyriSter

This project set out to answer the question: “How might we enable medics to treat multiple patients with limited access to medical supplies?” In crisis-affected regions, re-use of single-use medical equipment is often unavoidable. Interviews with paramedics revealed that syringes are among the most frequently used tools in emergency care. 70% of injections given in developing countries are given with re-used syringes. Lower socio-economic regions and areas in crisis are consistently struggling with supply disruptions and access to medical products. The design challenge was framed with resource constraints: limited or no access to clean water, electricity, gas, or supply chains.

SyriSter serves as an intermediary system to prevent syringes from ending up in either landfill or being re-used unsafely. The SyriSter utilises UV-C LEDs at a certain wavelength and configuration to achieve complete sterilisation and eradication of pathogens like HIV within 60 seconds. Unlike competitors, the device requires no consumables, no water, and can run on rechargeable batteries. Prototypes were used to test the UV-C functionality with a swab test, revealing no new growth after 60 seconds of sterilisation. The testing also revealed negligible degradation of the syringe, allowing it to be sterilised for hundreds of cycles before material failure.

In disaster and crisis areas, SyriSter could be a valuable asset where re-use is unavailable, allowing for safe re-use of syringes and helping ease the supply chain burdens. The system also promotes sterilisation practices and disease transmission prevention where they may not be commonly known. The innovative use of UV-C LEDs as a steriliser allows SyriSter to become a significantly cheaper and more accessible alternative to current sterilisation devices on the market. Overall SyriSter makes the practice of syringe re-use safer through reliable sterilisation, removing the risk of pathogen and disease transmission between patients.

The device features 6 chambers that can be used simultaneously. All chambers have a hinging back wall to allow for easier user loading, as well as an o-ring seal to store the syringes once sterilised. Inside each chamber, vacuum metalised aluminium is used to assist in reflecting the UV-C radiation around the syringe for a higher dosage. The hinging back wall, as well as physical dimensions and features of the chamber make it impossible to load a syringe with a needle, as needles can never be effectively sterilised. In order to make the device as accessible as possible for use by a medic from any background, visual language, LED indicators, and clear loading points were used to assist the user. A hardwired interlock switch acts as a safety feature to protect the user from UV-C exposure. SyriSter is the first device to utilise UV-C as a sterilisation technique in a medical application. This can be attributed to older technology not having enough efficacy to properly sterilise, while UV-C LEDs are a recent enough technological development that medical sterilisation has not yet been commercialised.