sol.
new age metered-dose inhaler
Take a deep breath, and thank yourself because it is not easy for everyone
1 in every 10 Children
Suffer from Asthma in USA
India Contributes
46%
of Global Deaths due to asthma
455000
Global Deaths due to asthma in 2022
262 million
people suffered from Asthma in 2022*
13%
contribution in global asthma burden from India
49%
of the users struggle in coordinating the drug administration and inhalation at the same time
Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) are the primitive and the most widely used devices to manage Asthma. The current global market for inhalation formulation is at USD 41, 831.2 million and is set to reach at USD 61,157.2 million by 2034. With the vast market opportunity and constant need of better products, the MDI market is flooded with either high end tech inhalers or simple CFC free polycarbonate inhalers. The current MDIs are inefficient and unnecessarily complicated for the task. I tried to talk and take testamonies from current users in order to understand some of the problems faced by them
I started ideating the product by first understanding the basic user interaction and ergonomics of the inhaler. After sketching the basic rough silhouettes, I shifted to Solidworks to imagine and understand the form factor and ideate according to its aesthetics and utility.
The ideation started with sketching basic side-views of the forms I had in mind, later on i switched in to Solidworks to explore more forms and gradually develop the product in three dimensions
Uncertainty of consuming full dosage
“I never know whether I loaded it or not and I can be doing this and I don't know whether I am wasting it and it is expensive, very expensive.”
“Whether I am getting the full dose I am not sure but certainly in terms of its effects, it seems to work well and I do not have an asthma attack for a long time so I have got no reason to doubt that I am not doing it correctly
Importance in life
“I would not be without it; I am very dependent on it. I would not go anywhere. If I go anywhere and I do not have it, I will be a bit nervous.”
Dose counting is a plus
“I quite like the way that some of them now have the little numbers on it, so I know when it runs out instead of keep trying, when you realise that there is actually nothing left into it.”
Emotional stigma of usage
“My greatest concern is that I have to use it for the rest of my life.
“Sometimes tough if you are suffering from asthma, you can't take a deep breath to inhale really deeply. With a good inhaler you have got to take a normal breath and it just goes in.”
difficulty to take in accurate dose
“Don’t just keep it, make sure its clean”
“What I dislike is when I throw them in my bag and something gets caught in them and I go to use it and it goes to my lung…Things can go down inside it or if I lost the cap on the end, lots of funny things end up from my handbag in there then end up down in my lungs.”
Portability is important
“It would be lighter and smaller, the portability reasons.”
69.6% of patients find it difficult to inhale and activate pump properly
Post ideation, I decided to go ahead with a form and function that blends with the traditional inhalers and enhances the experience while taking it. The design is humble, simple and at the same time aesthetic to carry than a simple inhaler
Add a Sol., a reimagined approach to MDIs that addresses the major issues associated with drug administration and user experience. Designed for a new generation of users, Sol. blends simplicity, efficiency, and modern aesthetics to create a product that people can feel confident using.
Portability
easy to carry/keep
Ease in Drug intake
Hygine
Track in Dose Intake
Simpler to Inhale the drug
Problems to cater:
Sol. incorporates a longer mouthpiece and a rear-mounted vacuum impeller fan that pulls air inside with high pressure. This mechanism ensures the aerosol medication is delivered with greater force and precision, easing the user's effort
Simplicity in it's design, sol. was designed in keeping mind the basic necessities of the user and present possibilities of the market. Sol. contains a simple mechanism depending upon the drug canister. Administered by the atmoizing hole, it disperses the drug solution with a dose counter that counts every time you press the cap and dispence it.
sol. is designed mindfully to cater and solve the most relevant and common problem faced by the Asthma Patients
It consists of a vacuum impeller fan blade at the back of the mouth piece. which helps to push the aerosol drug with a force so that maximum amount of drug is taken by the user.
Color, Material, Finishes and Graphics
Designed for humbleness and mindfulness. The finishes, colors, and materials are made in mind the emotions and needs of the user. White with a lighter shade of blue softly highlights the product and gives it a calming feel.
Textured ABS plastic body gives it robustness and helps in the user feel that the product is tactile and trustworthy.
The graphics of the products are made in such a way that they highlight the correct use of the product and steps to administer the drug responsibly.
sol.
Because every soul deserves to take a deep breath.
A simple additive click mechanism also used in click counters helps immensely in keeping the count of the number of doses dispensed. As the drug canisters are made of aluminum, it is not easy for users to make sure that they have sufficient medicine with us, this might lead to major consequences later.
