This project was completed during a two-semester sequence within the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at North Carolina State University. During these courses, an interdisciplinary team is tasked with identifying and solving a real-world problem. The first semester is used largely for ideation and market analysis. During the final semester each team builds a physical prototype and creates a formal business plan for their endeavor.
Inspired by the work of nonprofit organizations such as Engineering World Health, our team chose to create a medical device that could help people in developing countries without adequate access to healthcare needs. We focused on creating a reusable sterilization indicator for use in autoclaves. Autoclaves use high heat (>121°C) and steam for an extended duration (>10 min) to ensure medical devices such as surgical tools are properly sterilized. Typically disposable paper strips are used to ensure that appropriate conditions were reached inside the autoclave. These strips use a chemical that changes color in response environmental conditions, and usually cost a few dollars each.