Project: Prana (formerlyLimb-O2) — Spring ’21 Innovation Catalysts Ignite recipients
Team: Abhi Ghavalkar (MDes, 2022), Mercedes Saldaña (MDes, 2022), Penny Lin (MDes, 2022)
Prana is a passive, multi-patient attachment for medical ventilators that allows up to four patients to share a single machine safely. For under $800—using standard components and one novel, 3D printed part—the product allows medical facilities in developing nations to increase their capacity by 300% by simply plugging into an existing ventilator.
After a busy semester, the team behind Prana has not only rebranded from their original project name but has gone on to receive multiple awards and recognitions for their multi-patient attachment for medical ventilators‚ a timely and considered project amidst a pandemic. The team was recognized as a finalist in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards. Now in its fifth year, Fast Company received more than 4,000 entries from across the globe, in multiple categories including transportation, education, food, politics, technology, pandemic response, urban design, and architecture. World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs, focused on work intended for social good, drawing attention to ideas with great potential and helping them expand their reach. Learn more.
Additionally, Prana was honored with a Design Award in San Francisco Design Week’s yearly Design Awards, an international design competition whose mission is to support designers whose work is contributing towards a positive future for society.
And last but not least, Prana was selected by Core77’s 2021 Design Awards among thousands of entries for its outstanding insight, creativity, intent, and execution. The team is now in the running for their Community Choice Award, which, if won, will provide them with extra press coverage and a cash prize of $500 for them to continue developing their work and research. Voting is open until July 15th, vote here.
Continue to check back for updates from other Creative Catalysts recipients, as well as further project updates from Prana.