INNEO: Neonatal Transport Incubator for use in underserved communities

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely each year, alongside another 20 million with low birth weight. Tragically, 1.1 million of these newborns die annually, with complications from prematurity being the leading cause of death in children under five. Most of these deaths occur within the first week of life. Three-quarters of those deaths could be prevented with current and cost-effective interventions.

The situation is particularly dire in developing countries, where 90% of preterm births occur. Neonatal mortality rates for these regions are significantly higher compared to high-income countries. A 2010 report by the Colombian Ministry of Health highlights a stark example: the risk of death for newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams is 35 times greater in Latin America compared to developed nations.

Despite international efforts, preterm birth rates have remained stagnant globally for the past decade. Factors like conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 further exacerbate risks for mothers and babies worldwide.

A 2023 report by UNICEF, WHO, and others ("Born too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth") highlights a critical disparity in survival rates. A baby's birthplace significantly determines their chance of survival, with high-income countries boasting high survival rates for premature babies even at 28 weeks, while low-income countries may see rates as low as 10%. Unequal access to quality care, along with factors like race, ethnicity, and income, contribute significantly to these disparities.

"Premature babies can survive, thrive and change the world, but every baby must be given that chance," estates Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "These guidelines show that improving outcomes for these newborn babies is not always about finding solutions based on the latest technology, but about ensuring access to essential health care that is focused on the needs of families."

INNEO is a compact, practical, and cost-effective transport incubator designed to improve access to critical neonatal care, bridging the gap between basic rural healthcare centers and specialized hospitals, expanding access to vital equipment for a wider range of patients. It was developed through a partnership between Arroba Ingeniería (ARIN), a renowned medical device developer in Mexico City, and the MIMAPRO research group at UNAL in Colombia.

INNEO creates a controlled environment for safe patient transport, including warm air to regulate the baby's body temperature, monitors blood oxygen saturation levels, and tracks pulse rate. Additionally, it is compatible with a range of complementary medical equipment commonly used during transport, including mechanical ventilators, infusion pumps, and patient monitors, among others.

The incubator is crafted from durable, lightweight, and easily repairable materials, ensuring longevity and functionality in challenging environments. Notably, INNEO features a unique, independent heating cabinet and a long-lasting portable battery with three power ports. This allows for adaptation to various transportation scenarios, including ambulances, helicopters, airplanes, and even private vehicles such as pickup trucks. This versatility ensures optimal performance and uninterrupted patient care even under precarious conditions.

For safe and secure transport in difficult terrains and remote locations, INNEO comes equipped with specialized straps and harnesses designed for two adults. These straps ensure proper weight distribution for comfortable carrying and protect the infant during transport.  Additionally, the same straps can be used to secure the incubator within both private and emergency vehicles, further enhancing overall travel safety.

The user interface prioritizes clear communication among all stakeholders involved in the transfer process, including healthcare professionals, transport paramedics, and families. Designed for easy comprehension, it displays vital signs in a user-friendly format and incorporates an integrated remote monitoring system. This system allows the attending physician at the receiving hospital to continuously track the patient's vitals and access their medical history while in transit when possible.

With an estimated cost of approximately USD $2,700, INNEO offers a cost-effective solution for expanding access to essential neonatal care in both developed and resource-limited settings.

INNEO addresses a critical need in neonatal care by providing a transport incubator specifically designed for resource-limited settings. This innovative device caters to premature and critically ill newborns who require short-term thermal therapy and potential transfer to a high-specialty neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

INNEO prioritizes the well-being of infants born in:

• Remote rural areas: Limited access to advanced neonatal care necessitates a reliable solution for immediate stabilization.
• Underserved communities: INNEO empowers local healthcare providers to deliver essential thermal therapy to vulnerable newborns.
• Low-income families: This cost-effective solution bridges the gap in accessing vital neonatal care, regardless of socioeconomic background.
• Low-budget healthcare facilities: INNEO equips these centers with a user-friendly tool for immediate care, facilitating safe transfers when necessary.

INNEO offers a comprehensive solution, impacting not only neonates but also healthcare providers and families:

1. For neonates: Immediate thermal therapy ensures optimal temperature regulation, fostering a critical first step towards recovery. Safe and efficient transfer to a higher level of care, when needed, improves survival chances.
2. For healthcare workers: INNEO empowers medical staff by providing a reliable tool for delivering essential care. It facilitates emergency transfers, eliminating the need to wait for optimal conditions in resource-constrained environments.
3. For families: INNEO offers peace of mind, knowing their newborns can receive immediate thermal therapy within their local healthcare facilities.

By providing a practical and cost-effective solution, INNEO bridges the gap in delivering essential neonatal care in resource-limited settings. This innovative incubator empowers healthcare professionals, fosters hope for families, and ultimately contributes to improved health outcomes for vulnerable neonates.

Our multidisciplinary team has over 30 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, and commercializing cribs and incubators for newborns. This team includes industrial designers, biomedical, mechatronic, electronic, software, and process engineers.

As a team, we actively collaborate with a research group from the «Universidad Nacional de Colombia», incorporating academic rigor into our development process. Additionally, extensive research has been conducted to understand the needs of our target audience: Interviews with healthcare specialists (neonatologists, pediatricians, and nurses), field observations, specialty hospitals, clinics in resource-limited settings, and patient transfer procedures. Through these efforts, we have gained a deep understanding of the specific needs and requirements for effective neonatal care.

Our experience operating throughout Mexico has revealed a critical gap: while efforts exist to provide technological advancements, specialized care centers are not accessible in all regions, and for all people. We have witnessed firsthand the need for a more affordable, accessible, and user-friendly solution for remote communities. These communities often lack the specialized personnel, infrastructure, and capacity to maintain and operate complex medical devices. INNEO is specifically designed to address this challenge.

Our solution focuses on a simplification of incubator technology in favor of easier usability, low maintenance and lower cost. In addition to that, we have implemented new features for the adaptability of the incubator to different environments and geographical conditions. We have defined this stage since we've successfully developed and validated functional prototypes for INNEO's core systems: 

• Thermal Therapy System: Ensures precise temperature control for optimal care.
• Battery Backup System: Provides uninterrupted operation during transfers, with the ability to charge from various power sources (AC or DC) found in ambulances, vehicles, and most locations.
• Intuitive User Interface: Designed through usability testing with healthcare personnel, this interface simplifies operation for nurses and healthcare workers.
• Secure Transport System: The incubator integrates a fastening mechanism rigorously tested for various patient transfer scenarios, including foot transport, stretcher transport, ambulance mounting, and private vehicle use with 3-point seatbelts.

All testing has been conducted in the controlled environment of Arroba Ingeniería's laboratories. With the core technology developed and usability confirmed, the next step is a pilot program to evaluate INNEO's performance in real-world healthcare settings.

While we possess the technical expertise to develop a user-friendly and adaptable incubator (INNEO) that fulfills a critical need in resource-limited settings, a key challenge remains: affordability for the end-user.

We are applying to Solve to overcome this barrier and maximize INNEO's impact. Our specific goals are:

• Developing a compelling business plan. In order to attract medical device distributors, we aim to create a commercially viable strategy.

•  Securing funding for a pilot program: We seek funding to implement a pilot program with an initial batch of INNEO incubators. This program will demonstrate the real-world impact and cost-effectiveness of INNEO to potential large-scale buyers, including governments, foundations, and healthcare institutions.

•  Establishing robust impact measurement: We are committed to objectively measuring the positive impact of INNEO on premature infant survival rates in underserved communities. This will involve developing a methodology for data collection, monitoring, and statistical analysis.

•  Connecting with global expertise: We seek guidance on acquiring healthcare expertise and data analysis support from mentors and experts worldwide, particularly in North America. This will be crucial for potential future expansion into new markets.

By collaborating with Solve, we aim to make INNEO a readily available solution, ultimately saving lives and improving the health outcomes of vulnerable newborns in resource-constrained environments.

Technological advancements in neonatal care often cater to well-resourced healthcare systems, prioritizing profitability and sophisticated features. However, these solutions are rarely adaptable to the realities of developing countries – particularly rural areas with limited resources. This creates a significant gap in access to essential neonatal care for vulnerable populations.

INNEO presents a groundbreaking approach to bridging this gap. Our incubator is designed specifically for resource-limited settings, with a focus on participatory design, by incorporating the needs of vulnerable populations and healthcare personnel throughout the development process.

On top of that, it functions effectively across diverse geographical and territorial conditions, guaranteeing environmental adaptability. Additionally, our cost-effective design ensures accessibility, while maintaining performance that prioritizes the safety and well-being of neonates.

INNEO seeks to fundamentally change the paradigm of neonatal care delivery in developing countries. We aim to empower healthcare professionals in resource-limited settings to provide essential care to premature and critically ill newborns.

Leveraging Technology to Reduce Infant Mortality

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to three-quarters of premature deaths could be prevented through cost-effective solutions tailored to regional needs. In Colombia, a 2021 report by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) on Socio-Demographic Statistics Applied to Different Regions aligns with this notion. The report concludes that "Improved living conditions and access to second or third-level hospitals are effective interventions to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)."

This following map expresses the ratio between access to healthcare services and IMR in all of the 32 Colombian regions.

INNEO: Expanding Access to Specialized Care

Immediate outcome:

The INNEO initiative aims to increase the presence of specialized medical devices in underserved areas with higher IMR. The program will be initially implemented  in low-complexity hospitals in Bogotá and gradually expand to regional and rural health centers. This expansion is expected to empower more hospitals in Colombia to perform safe neonatal transfers.

Furthermore, INNEO is projected to increase the number of patients that can be treated simultaneously within a single hospital, benefiting both Bogotá and surrounding rural areas.

Long-Term outcome: A Healthcare Transformation

• Enhanced Specialist Availability: INNEO seeks to significantly increase the presence of specialized medical teams in underserved regions like Cauca, Chocó, Nariño, and Putumayo, which grapple with higher IMR.

• Improved Neonatal Care for Mothers and Babies: The program will expand access to specialized neonatal care for both newborns and their mothers. Timely medical attention for the baby will ensure the mother receives necessary care as well, improving her often-vulnerable mental health during the postpartum period.

• Empowering Healthcare Systems: INNEO will provide tools (incubators) to bolster healthcare coverage and access to neonatal care systems.

• Prioritizing Vulnerable Populations: The initiative aims to significantly increase access rates to neonatal public health services in rural and disadvantaged sectors. This includes low-income individuals, women, children, LGBTQ+ pregnant people, indigenous and rural communities.

• Revolutionizing Neonatal Transfers: Regardless of challenging environmental conditions, geographical limitations, or resource scarcity, INNEO prioritizes ensuring patient safety during neonatal transfers. Every child deserves the opportunity to receive dignified, high-quality medical care and safe transport.

This project strives to transform the paradigm of neonatal care in Colombia and beyond, ensuring no child succumbs to preventable causes due to limited access to specialized healthcare.

The expected impact is to have a greater availability of incubators for more premature and critically ill newborns that will have access to temporary incubator support, crucial for stabilizing their condition. As well as an increase in the number of newborn transfers performed, as well as in the promptness of such transfers to specialized healthcare facilities when necessary.

To objectively measure the impact of INNEO, we will use two main KPI's:

1. Number on incubators needed vs. number of incubators provided:

We will compare the pre-implementation need for incubators in target areas (births requiring incubators but lacking service) with the post-implementation scenario.

2. Number of efficient transfers:

We will track the number of births requiring transfer and lacking immediate access to a suitable transport incubator.

For both cases, a field evaluation is required to determine the need for the incubator, taking into account factors such as birth rate, current availability of incubators or cradles that can provide this function, statistics on births with conditions that make a transfer necessary, proximity to specialty health centers, conditions in which neonatal transfers are performed when required, waiting times to receive support for a specialized neonatal transfer and any other data that provide information on the need for the device.

To ensure accurate data collection, analysis, and interpretation, we seek support from specialists. This collaboration is crucial for demonstrating the measurable impact of INNEO on improving neonatal care outcomes in these communities.

It is important to emphasize that an incubator is equivalent to a bed for a newborn patient, even if it is a healthy baby born at term, who will occupy it temporarily. In this way, we believe that there is a positive impact in communities that currently have little or no availability of these devices offering a sense of security for families knowing their babies have immediate access to this care, not only after birth but also in case of necessary transfers.

INNEO breaks new ground by leveraging readily available technologies from the consumer goods and appliance market. This innovative approach translates into cost-Effective Manufacturing by utilizing familiar processes and materials simplifying production and reducing overall manufacturing costs. Also the incubator design prioritizes local production methods with easily accessible components. This ensures straightforward repairs and replacements, minimizing maintenance burdens for healthcare providers in resource-limited settings.

INNEO incorporates several user-friendly technologies such as:

1. Lithium Ion Battery System: This system enables easy recharging and eventual replacement, ensuring reliable operation during transfers.
2. Consumer-Grade Air Conditioning Unit: Utilizing readily available heating and fan components keeps costs low while maintaining effective temperature control.
3. Adaptable Fastening System: Borrowing from infant car seat technology, INNEO integrates a secure fastening system compatible with standard 3-point seatbelts in ambulances and private vehicles.
4. Wireless Data Communication: This feature enables data transmission on device usage, allowing medical personnel to monitor performance and facilitate continuous improvement of the incubator system.

10 full-time members main team.

15 part-time collaborators.

5 contractors and occasional consultants.

2 years.

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion

We prioritize building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. Our current team composition boasts a range of backgrounds, including age, nationality (primarily Colombia and Mexico), and professional experience. This blend ensures a dynamic exchange of fresh perspectives from talented newcomers alongside the valuable insights of seasoned experts.

Going Beyond Borders

We recognize the historical underrepresentation of Latin American countries in global healthcare decision-making.  Our team bridges this gap by directly connecting with medical personnel from diverse locations within Colombia and Mexico, encompassing both remote/rural areas and major cities with specialized hospitals.  We believe in empowering stakeholders through inclusion in the design process, ensuring the solutions we develop address real needs and have a positive impact on people's lives. By fostering collaboration between countries, we aim to create a more symbiotic environment in terms of design and entrepreneurial/industry culture within Latin America. This will not only strengthen our solutions but also empower the region as a whole to play a more active and prominent role in global healthcare innovation.

A Commitment to Equality

Our team leadership is demonstrably diverse, with a woman at the helm. We strongly believe in the transformative power of including women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields, which have traditionally been male-dominated, particularly in Latin America.

Building Bridges, Not Walls

Our core mission is to bridge societal disparities by delivering innovative healthcare solutions for underserved communities. To achieve this, we actively seek to build a team that reflects the richness of human diversity, where race, ethnicity, income, religion, or sexual orientation are not barriers to opportunity. We value each individual's unique contribution and strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels empowered to share their ideas.

1. Value Proposition:
   INNEO is a transfer incubator specially designed to assist newborns in situations of resource scarcity and precarious conditions. It provides short-term thermal therapy in a controlled environment and facilitates the safe transfer of the patient to a specialized health center when necessary.
2. Revenue Streams:
   Our revenue comes from the sale of the transfer incubator, as well as from installation, maintenance, and spare parts services.
3. Key Customers:
   Our customers include medical equipment distributors, local health institutions, governments, foundations, and health assistance organizations.
4. Beneficiaries:
   The beneficiaries of our service are premature babies and newborns who require an incubator for short stays or specialized medical care, as well as the mothers, families, and healthcare workers involved in their care.
5. Key Partners:
   We have the support of Arroba Ingeniería, a leading manufacturer of neonatal care devices in Mexico, and the research group of the National University of Colombia.
6. Key Activities:
   Carry out pilot programs to implement the incubator in representative communities.
   Collect data to measure the impact of our solution.
   Disseminate the results obtained with medical equipment distributors and our customer segment.

INNEO adopts a "low-income client" strategy, recognizing the resource constraints faced by its primary beneficiaries. We aim to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and these vulnerable populations by:

• Engaging with Key Decision-Makers: Our outreach focuses on foundations, governments, and public health institutions – entities with the resources and commitment to address public health needs.
• Cost-Effective Impact: INNEO offers a compelling cost-benefit proposition. Its affordability allows for wider deployment compared to existing technologies, maximizing the impact on underserved communities.

A pilot program with an initial batch of INNEO incubators is crucial for our success. This will enable us to gather real-world data. We will use the collected data to measure and demonstrate the positive, and real-life outcomes achieved. On top of that, data analysis will guide the continuous product improvement, ensuring the product remains optimally effective.

Our collaboration with Arroba Ingeniería, a reputable manufacturer with extensive experience in product lifecycle management, ensures our ability to scale production effectively.

By focusing on affordability and maximizing impact, INNEO empowers potential funders to make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable newborns. We are confident that INNEO's cost-effectiveness compared to existing solutions will provide compelling evidence for investment.