Home Aspirator & CPAP
Home Aspirator & CPAP
Aira, is a sustainable innovation and an accessible solution, designed to create a better quality of life for quadriplegic individuals as well as their caretakers; powered solely by air pressure, containing zero electrical components.
Aira, is a sustainable innovation and an accessible solution, designed to create a better quality of life for quadriplegic individuals as well as their caretakers; powered solely by air pressure, containing zero electrical components.
Duration: 14 weeks
Collaboration with Nicholas Choi
Designed for Terrance and Mom ❤️
Duration: 14 weeks
Collaboration with Nicholas Choi
Designed for Terrance and Mom ❤️
WHY
WHY
To create a better quality of life for quadriplegic children and their caretakers.
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To driving meaningful change in the overlooked and unsustainable design of home medical products.
To create a better quality of life for quadriplegic children and their caretakers.
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To driving meaningful change in the overlooked and unsustainable design of home medical products.
Design Opportunity
Design Opportunity
Engineered to Work, Designed to Fail
Engineered to Work, Designed to Fail
For quadriplegic children like Terrance, an aspirator is a device that must be by his side 24/7. A product that’s used daily doesn’t just sit in your living space, it integrates into your life. A product this essential to a person's wellbeing should not be so painfully under-designed and expensive, but rather thoughtfully designed through a human-centered approach.
For quadriplegic children like Terrance, an aspirator is a device that must be by his side 24/7. A product that’s used daily doesn’t just sit in your living space, it integrates into your life. A product this essential to a person's wellbeing should not be so painfully under-designed and expensive, but rather thoughtfully designed through a human-centered approach.
Pain Points
Pain Points
Issues My Family and I Face
Issues My Family and I Face
+ If the battery decays, the entire device becomes inoperable
+ Components are non-replaceable
+ Expensive with short lifespan
+ Severely under-designed, requiring further DIY solutions
+ The sound of the device is extremely loud
+ If the battery decays, the entire device becomes inoperable
+ Components are non-replaceable
+ Expensive with short lifespan
+ Severely under-designed, requiring further DIY solutions
+ The sound of the device is extremely loud
THE GOAL
THE GOAL
Make a simplified yet beautiful aspirator that is purposeful, sustainable, and affordable.
Make a simplified yet beautiful aspirator that is purposeful, sustainable, and affordable.
Design Journey
Design Journey
Human-Centered
Human-Centered
Most aspirators on the market are poorly designed and fail to meet real user needs. Aira redefines the experience by addressing these challenges head-on, delivering unconventional yet highly effective solutions that meaningfully improve quality of life for patients and caregivers alike.
Most aspirators on the market are poorly designed and fail to meet real user needs. Aira redefines the experience by addressing these challenges head-on, delivering unconventional yet highly effective solutions that meaningfully improve quality of life for patients and caregivers alike.
Efficiency
Efficiency
Utilizing an energy source that’s already present in our user’s home; that energy source being supplemental oxygen. Through applied physics, we created a system that allows Aira to operate better than current battery powered aspirators/cpap’s on the market.
Powered solely by air pressure. Containing no battery, no motor, and producing minimal noise.
By eliminating the need for electrical and metallic components, the cost of acquiring an aspirator and CPAP becomes extremely accessible.
Utilizing an energy source that’s already present in our user’s home; that energy source being supplemental oxygen. Through applied physics, we created a system that allows Aira to operate better than current battery powered aspirators/cpap’s on the market.
Powered solely by air pressure. Containing no battery, no motor, and producing minimal noise.
By eliminating the need for electrical and metallic components, the cost of acquiring an aspirator and CPAP becomes extremely accessible.
Quality of Life Improvements
Quality of Life Improvements
The yankauer is positioned to rest at a precise angle that aligns directly into the flush container; an intentional design that intuitively lets user’s flush the system each time it's set down, streamlining a step that’s typically done manually after every use.
The internal coiling compartment allows users to take out only what’s necessary, eliminating visual clutter and any sort of tripping hazards caused by excess tubing.
The yankauer is positioned to rest at a precise angle that aligns directly into the flush container; an intentional design that intuitively lets user’s flush the system each time it's set down, streamlining a step that’s typically done manually after every use.
The internal coiling compartment allows users to take out only what’s necessary, eliminating visual clutter and any sort of tripping hazards caused by excess tubing.
How it Works
How it Works
Aira utilizes a principle in physics called the Venturi Effect. This effect occurs when air flows through a constricted section of a pipe, increasing its velocity and decreasing its pressure, hence creating a vacuum.
This is how the aspirator portion of our system functions. As for the CPAP portion, we utilize an already existing invention called an EZPAP, a product that utilizes external oxygen in order to deliver positive airway pressure into its user.
Aira utilizes a principle in physics called the Venturi Effect. This effect occurs when air flows through a constricted section of a pipe, increasing its velocity and decreasing its pressure, hence creating a vacuum.
This is how the aspirator portion of our system functions. As for the CPAP portion, we utilize an already existing invention called an EZPAP, a product that utilizes external oxygen in order to deliver positive airway pressure into its user.
Proof of Concept
Proof of Concept
By rigging a 3D-Printed venturi chamber onto an air compressor and suction yankauer, we were successfully able to create a working vacuum.
By rigging a 3D-Printed venturi chamber onto an air compressor and suction yankauer, we were successfully able to create a working vacuum.
Previous user flow analysis
Previous user flow analysis
Turn the aspirator on, suction baby, flush the suction yankauer, squeeze the yankauer in-between the tubing and pressure gauge, turn the machine off.
Turn the aspirator on, suction baby, flush the suction yankauer, squeeze the yankauer in-between the tubing and pressure gauge, turn the machine off.
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updated user flow analysis
updated user flow analysis
Turn the aspirator on → Suction baby → Rest the suction yankauer (automatically flushes system) → Turn Aira off
Turn the aspirator on → Suction baby → Rest the suction yankauer (automatically flushes system) → Turn Aira off
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Manufacturing Method
Manufacturing Method
Heat Molded and 3D Printed
Heat Molded and 3D Printed
Aira is designed to be extremely affordable and easily manufacturable. The outer casing and containers are heat molded while the other components can either be outsourced or 3D printed/injection molded.
Aira is designed to be extremely affordable and easily manufacturable. The outer casing and containers are heat molded while the other components can either be outsourced or 3D printed/injection molded.
