Low-cost, Frugal Technology for Developing Countries: TRIZ for Health

1. 18 September 2013 TRIZ for Health APPROPRIATE HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: LOW-COST, FRUGAL TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL DEVICES. W: www.kinetik.uk.com | E: bebetter@kinetik.uk.com | T: 0203 397 0686 Kinetik Solutions Ltd. Registered in England & Wales, No 6067771. Registered Office: 16 Wychwood Close, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 6TE. VAT GB 839 9186 67

2. "It takes imagination, resourcefulness, and problem solving skills to create technologies that will really work in developing countries” – intrahealth.org

3. Being Resourceful in Africa: The Play Pump Source: http://www.waterforpeople.org/extras/playpumps/case-foundation-partnership.html

4. How do we innovate? Is it good enough? If it isn't, what can we do about it?

5. What is TRIZ ? • An armory of problem definition and solution tools supporting a creative mindset – in a structured, systematic way • And it’s as much about people as it is about things Note : TRIZ is a Russian born methodology based upon research of millions of patents. Paul first learned it in 2003, and immediately used it to solve intractable problems in the automotive industry. After falling completely in love with the method, he now has several years experience of using it in a consulting role with large organisations inventing and solving problems and challenging category norms. He is part of the Systematic Innovation network that continues to the develop the method and integrate with other ways of doing things…… like 6Sigma, QFD etc.

6. What can you see?

7. We jump to conclusions We see things one way Once we think we have "the answer" we stop thinking Question : Does our personality type, discipline, job, role or training lock us in to seeing things one way? Do people see things in terms of class A,B,C, age, gender – or likely clinical need? Do engineering orientated folk tend to see the world in terms of the physical world - strength, stress, dimensional terms?

8. What are incubators associated with? Note : In our Western mental model, we have addressed a clinical need by developing very clever incubators. We understand that some attempts have been made to raise money to send out these incubators to the “third world”(which doesn’t exist – Google “TED Gapminder” if you havent already seen Prof Hans Rosling)

9. But they need hospital infrastructure to work But clever western incubators need complex infrastructure to keep them working. And without adequate maintenance in the “3rd world”, they fell into disuse after a relatively short time

10. So we need A way to help us see things differently Something to stop us jumping to conclusions Something better than just good brainstorming Note : Our mental eyes as well as our physical ones tend to have just one way of seeing. What if we had set of lenses, each designed to help us see things in a different light. binoculars, x-rays specs, ultraviolet, microscope, freeze frame, slow motion, fast forward…….

11. Solve the right problem What matters most is that the main Functions are delivered Note : One of the key TRIZ principles is Functionality. At the end of the day, all that matters to the customer is getting the job done and doing so with the minimum of cost and the maximum satisfaction. So from generation to generation of technology the means of delivery may change, but the function remains. There is always another way to deliver a function……… So we need to find the most IDEAL way for our specific situation, which leads us to another key TRIZ principle - IDEALITY

12. Ideality Note : When something is stopping us from making our system more ideal – this is a conflict – ie parameters fighting against each other – like strength vs weight. A CONTRADICTION Something’s getting in the way Function Contradictions Resourcefulness Main Useful Function (s) = Ideality (of Health) Cost + harm

13. Note : One way to solve a contradiction is to use alternative resources to deliver the function. In frugal technology we are looking for freely available, simple, common things that are around us in the situation. Free Resources

14. Resourcefulness Note : The automotive aftermarket supply chain spans the globe with high quality parts, at affordable prices and able to deliver many functions needed by an incubator. Even with many people who know how the sub systems work and how to maintain them.

15. Resourcefulness Questions for appropriate health care : What are the outcomes (functions) we need to deliver ? What is stopping us ? What free / cheap and available resources can solve the problem ?

16. Resourcefulness Fixing punctures without the need for a repair outfit / glue Puncture repair - without the repair kit Contradiction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-wzRH_RMwg#t=11

17. Resourcefulness Turn plastic bags into Mosquito nets - using ordinary nails adapted to fit into ordinary sewing machines and punch holes rather than stitch seams Contradiction Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-wzRH_RMwg&feature=youtu.be and http://www.doane.edu/how-to-page

18. What are the issues facing us ? Google “Two-thirds of the world’s population does not yet have Internet access. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas.” Bill Gates “When you’re dying of malaria, I suppose you’ll look up and see that balloon, and I’m not sure how it’ll help you.” Note : An interesting debate. If struggling nations need to spread best practice about great ways to fix punctures, or make your own mosquito nets – wouldn’t it be good to have the internet to help ? "It takes imagination, resourcefulness, and problem solving skills to create technologies that will really work in developing countries"

19. Note : There are structured ways to help us be more creative – such as TRIZ. So we should make it one of our goals of personal and organisational development to constantly seek out ways to learn more and put these methods to effective use. Waiting for Newtons apple to fall for the moment of insight is not good enough – we need to go and shake some trees. What could be more important than quickly finding the best ways to save lives and make things better in the world "It takes imagination, resourcefulness, and problem solving skills to create technologies that will really work in developing countries” – intrahealth.org

20. The speakers and their organisations Kinetik Solutions Systematic Innovation Ltd Paul Frobisher is a director of SI UK. We invent to order, solve intractable problems and transform the innovation pipeline across multiple sectors. We work “consumer needs back”, or “technology forward”. Fans of TRIZ, we invest heavily in keeping the method up to date. But we also use an armoury of complimentary techniques to get the job done. Together with our clients we are shaping the future, one step change at a time. Ketan Varia is a director of Kinetik Solutions. We deliver transformation and change programmes for large organisations across the globe. We have expertise in end to end process design using frugal techniques, accelerated decision making using facilitated workshops and creation of high performance teams. Our way of working is pragmatic and based on ‘on the ground’ realities, but using innovative tools to solve problems.