Cleber Niels & Rodrigo de Freitas Wolf – Pontificial Catholic University of Paraná
Equine Exhaled Breath Condenser
Self
Equine Exhaled Breath Condenser
The project is a veterinary equipment to get diagnosis from the equine respiratory system. The product captures information from the respiratory system performing the condensation of the exhaled gases in the breath, to be able to gather liquid samples and send them to analysis.
Graduation project of Cleber Niels and Rodrigo de Freitas Wolf, students of Industrial Design – Product Design, in Pontificial Catholic University of Paraná (Curitiba – Brazil). All the information related to animal science (essentials to develop the product solutions) was conceded by Pedro Vicente Michelotto Jr., adjunct professor of the Veterinary course and coordinator of the Hospital for Equines of Pontificial Catholic University of Paraná (Curitiba – Brazil). The project was oriented by Alex Ferraresi, Antonio Martiniano Fontoura, José Luiz Casela and Marcelo Castilho, all teachers from product design course of Pontificial Catholic University of Paraná (Curitiba – Brazil).
Curitiba - Paraná - Brazil
Equine Exhaled Breath Condenser
1. Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the challenge posed to you? Did it get you excited and why?
We wanted to avoid actual methods to get respiratory diagnostics in horses, that are limited, invasive, much expensive (because sedatives) and traumatic.
Also the feasibility of new process to obtain diagnostics through a product and Make it a routine, in a seriate, fast, clean and cheap way, in order to prematurely diagnosticate problems in the respiratory system and other parts of the equine organism.
The challenge was Insert the design in new areas that handles about 20 billion dollars per year (in the case: products for animal health). Act in areas unexplored by design that requires specific technical information, requiring a multidisciplinary work. The design is not viewed with much confidence in the scientific environment, what makes the development harder in determined situations, because the solution results in benefits that will act directly in the user’s health, be him a man or another animal.
2. What point of view did you bring to the challenge? Was there anything additional that you wanted to achieve with this project or bring to this project that was not part of the original brief?
Multidisciplinary work was essential to the project. We acted as a tool and a bridge between veterinary and manufacturing processes to solve the principal problem.
3. When designing this project, whose interests did you consider? (Discuss various stakeholders, audiences, retailing, manufacturing, assembly, distribution, etc., for example.)
The principal focus was the animal and the professional that will work on it. That interaction gave us answers to many problens that envolved the use os the new method.
Consider animal anatomy and ergonomy was a interesting challenge.
4. Describe the rigor that informed your design. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) If this was a strictly research or strategy project, please provide more detail here.
The principal points in developmente was research and knowledge about the new method. The requirements around veterinary work, the animal specification, cares and the interaction with humans and objects.
5. What is the social value of your design? (Gladdening, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, labor-mindful, environmental, cultural, etc.) How does it earn its keep in the world?
Make this new method a routine, in a seriate, fast, clean and cheap way, in order to prematurely diagnosticate problems in the respiratory system and other parts of the organism, will bring owners a safe situation around horse races, farm, military cavalry.
This feasibility open doors to new scientific exploration, because horses aren't the uniques that use lungs to breath.
6. If you could have done one thing differently with the project, what would you have changed?
We wanted to add some ways to pré-diagnostic problems before the condensed sample go to laboratory, as a pregnant test result (with colors).
Maria Popova: A humane diagnostic tool to replace a highly invasive procedure, a paragon in the marginalized field of design for animals. In the age of "humanitarian design" fetishism, it's refreshing to see the use of design as a tool of health and well-being in a more holistic, inclusive sense that extends beyond the solipsistic confines of our species.