Syringe saving

The use of non-sterile syringes lead to many unnecessary deaths each year. Here's a concept that gives patients the power to know when a syringe is unsafe.
ABC's: A Behaviour Changing Syringe by Dr David Swann.
ABC's: A Behaviour Changing Syringe by Dr David Swann.

Save a life in 60 seconds with safer syringes... 

One of the most deadly clinical procedures is a simple injection. Every year an estimated 1.3 million deaths occur as unsafe needle are used on patients, with the problem being particularly rife in India. This issue has become a global challenge, which encouraged Dr David Swann of the University of Huddersfield in the UK to develop a transformative syringe, saving millions of lives.

Swann’s ABCs: A Behaviour Changing Syringe provides a 60-second treatment window before turning an irreversible red, warning patients and doctors that the syringe has been used before. 

The syringe remains colourless inside a nitrogen-filled package and once exposed to air activates an o-crestholphthalein ink that changes the syringe from colourless to red within 60 seconds. If no re-colouration occurs the syringe is safe for use, but if it becomes red the syringe discourages use and operability.

An affordable competitor to ordinary syringes, the ABCs: A Behaviour Changing Syringe aims to educate and empower patients to prevent clinical violations that could save their lives. 

The first stage of implementation will take place in India, as the country is the world’s largest consumer of syringes.

ABCs: A Behaviour Changing Syringe is a finalist in the Body category of the INDEX: Award 2013

More on Product Design