Indigo | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Indigo is a portable, electricity-free, and battery-free insulated container that keeps vaccines at the required temperature range of 2 to 8 degrees Centigrade for several days, solving the issues of spoilage due to heat and freezing.

Key Insights

• 🧊 Vaccines need to be kept within a specific temperature range of 2-8°C, posing challenges in rural areas with unreliable electricity.
• ♀️ Mobility is crucial for effective vaccination campaigns in remote locations, requiring a small, portable solution that can be easily transported by one person.
• ❄️ Traditional methods of using ice chests are not practical as ice melts quickly and requires electricity to produce.
• ⚡ The Indigo is an innovative invention that requires no electricity, ice, or batteries, making it a reliable solution for vaccine storage and transportation.
• 🌡️ The Indigo operates by evaporating water, which cools the chamber to the required temperature range, and the water moves at an exact rate to maintain the cold temperature for several days. ⏰ The Indigo has a simple on/off switch, eliminating the need to wait for ice to freeze.
• 🔥 Heating the Indigo pushes the water back to the start of its cycle, ensuring continuous operation when needed.
• 🏥 An ideal system would involve storing vaccines at primary healthcare centers while utilizing the Indigo for vaccine administration in hard-to-reach areas, ensuring accessibility for all parents.

Transcript

Vaccines have two problems. They spoil if they get too hot, and if the water in them freezes, they don’t work. So, it’s, you’ve got to keep in this range of 2 degrees Centigrade and below 8 degrees Centigrade. It’s very tricky because you’re going out to very rural areas where there’s not reliable electricity. You want to be able to carry something... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the Indigo solve the issues of vaccine spoilage due to heat and freezing?

The Indigo is designed to maintain a temperature range of 2 to 8 degrees Centigrade without the need for electricity or ice. Its low-pressure water system cools the chamber through evaporation, ensuring vaccines stay at the required temperature for several days.

Q: What makes the Indigo a suitable solution for remote areas with unreliable electricity?

The Indigo is specifically designed for use in rural areas with limited access to reliable electricity. It requires no electricity, ice, or batteries, making it easily portable and usable by a single person on foot, bicycle, or motorcycle.

Q: How does the Indigo ensure the cold temperature is maintained for several days?

The Indigo's insulated container has an extra layer that holds water at a low pressure. The water moves to the outer layer at a precise rate, keeping the chamber cold for several days without the need for additional cooling methods like ice or electricity.

Q: What are the advantages of using the Indigo for vaccine storage and transport?

The Indigo offers several advantages, including portability, simplicity of operation (with just an on/off switch), and the ability to keep vaccines at the required temperature range for 5 to 7 days. It eliminates the need for ice and electricity, making it suitable for remote locations with limited resources.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vaccines need to be stored and transported within a specific temperature range for them to remain effective.

• The Indigo is an invention that eliminates the need for electricity, ice, or batteries to keep vaccines cold.

• It uses a low-pressure water system that evaporates and cools the chamber, providing a reliable and portable solution for vaccine storage and transport.