Please join our first humanitarian
challenge to create a locally manufacturable hospital bed by the end of the
Hackathon!
International NGO World Vision is supplying
equipment to Health Posts in Nepal, to replace equipment lost in the massive earthquake
that hit Nepal in April 2015. One of the key items required is the IV stand. The
IV stands they are currently supplying are not very robust, the mechanism to
increase and decrease the stand keeps failing, the connection between the base
and the vertical pole is often weak, and the wheels often fall off (and can’t
be replaced as they are unavailable on the local market). Additionally, the IV
stands are imported from India – however, there are local makers within a 5
mile radius of the Health Posts who would be very capable of making a bed given
a clear design. It should also be assumed in this case that there is a Fablab
available.
We propose to develop a design suitable to
local materials and skillsets, and tools found locally or in a Fablab, by the
end of the conference. The design must also meet the minimum quality standards
put in place by the Nepali government, which exist to ensure items delivered by
aid agencies are professional products of a standard that would be appropriate
in a western context.
The requirements are as follows:
·
The IV stand shall be largely
made of tubular anti-corrosive and antirust treated mild steel
·
5 pronged base fitted on mobile
on swivelling castors of approx. diameter Ø50mm
·
The castors must be non-rusting
and non-marking
·
The stand should come with
double IV hook
·
Must be height adjustable from
approximately 1620mm to 2340mm
Local materials:
·
Mild steel angles and tubes of
circular, square and rectangular cross sections, in most standard sizes (no
stainless steel). This material is generally very rusty and will need cleaning.
·
Steel sheet
·
GI corrugated sheet
·
Chicken wire
·
Old tyres
·
Plywood
·
Hardwood
·
Mild steel bar for lathe (no
stainless steel)
·
PVC pipe
·
HDPE pipe + GI fittings
·
PP pipe + PP fittings
·
Zinc paint
·
Acrylic paint
·
Polyurethane paint
·
Cooking oil
·
Small, moisture rich bamboo
plants
·
Pine tree resin
Local capabilities:
·
Manual carpentry (average
standard)
·
Bandsaw
·
Welding (average standard)
·
Grinding (power tool)
·
Sanding (power tool)
·
Metal cutting – circular saw
·
Pillar drill
·
Lathe (high standard)
Additionally, if required, specialist parts
can be made using 3D printers (ABS/PLA) or silicone/polyurethane casting in
Kathmandu’s Makerspace.
Questions about other
materials/capabilities/context should be asked to Abi Bush, available at skype
abi.bush and video conferencing this week. She is currently based in Nepal and
working for Field Ready, who make humanitarian supplies in the field. Wanna
join the team remotely mail to dirk at fablab.nl

IV stand which has a weak connection at the
base and a raising mechanism that doesn’t work