Description of Prototype
A bug spray and electrode bracelets are used jointly in order to prevent the attraction of mosquitoes in low developed countries in which malaria is readily spread. The bug spray contains anti-inflammatory that prevents the human cells from responding to the initial bite of a mosquito. The cells that respond to mosquito bites are the ones initially infected, and spread the disease throughout the body. The spray will also contain conductive properties that will allow an electric field, stimulated by the electrode bracelets, to more easily pass over the body. By wearing electrodes on the wrists, ankles and neck, the field will be effective in disturbing the mosquito’s brain, preventing them from inserting their needle. The magnitude of electric current induced by the bracelets is adjusted through the use of a power battery.
Technical and Clinical Feasibility
Technical Feasibility
This product will consist of five bracelets, a spray, and a battery. The bracelets will be placed on both wrists, ankles, and around the neck. Their purpose is to create a magnetic field over the skin in order to repel mosquitoes. The spray contains an anti-inflammatory, active ingredients used in common repellents, and electrolytes. The purpose of this spray is to increase the flow of electricity on the body. Lastly, the power battery will be compact and power the bracelets. Some potential challenges will be the concentration of electrolytes needed to produce a sufficient amount of surface conductivity that will prevent the mosquitoes from biting the host. The number of components required to operate the device may produce difficulties as users may not want to use a complicated system.
Clinical Feasibility
The device is entirely feasible, though immediate challenges we predict will be ensuring the preservation of the conductive cream and limiting the change in resistivity. As an upside, resistivity changes will be felt by the wearer so that the product can be adjusted before it becomes a problem. Having a conductive element will take most of the current, a higher voltage must be used to ensure that a mosquito with higher impedance than our conductive element will still receive the proper amperage to keep it away.
The human body has an internal resistance of approx. 300-500Ω.
Common conductive gels experience a resistivity range from less than 10Ω to over 270Ω.
If mosquitoes have significantly higher internal body resistance than humans there will be a problem of applying too much amperage to the wearer.
These problems are the simple matter of adjusting the circuit and changing the ratio of ingredients to the conductive gel. Neither of these are extreme pitfalls and should not require too much work to fix.
Clinical trials will have to be done in order to compare the effects of different levels of voltage on both the host and mosquitoes. Because this is a minimally invasive product, these tests are low-risk. Other necessary tests include determining the internal body resistance of mosquitoes.
This mode of prevention has not yet been tested, therefore there are no comparable clinical trials.
Although trials have not yet been ran on the product, the procedure is simple in which physicians will be able to instruct the public on its use.
Again, because trials have not yet been ran on the product, research still has to be made in order to ensure its success.
Market Analysis
Value Creation
Value is added to our product through the addition of our electrode bracelets, and the anti-inflammatory properties in our spray. Typical bug sprays that do not contain anti-inflammatory do not prevent the stimulation of cells to the site of a bug bite. Thus, it is easier for malarial disease to spread throughout the body. In addition, the bracelets physically inhibit the mosquitos from biting a host, whereas traditional bug spray deters bugs using smell.
Manufacturing Cost
The materials required for these parts include stainless steel (for the bracelet), plastic (for the bug spray bottle), a battery (for the current), and the chemicals used in the bug spray, as well as labor. According to “Mosquito Repellent Mat,” the collective cost for the plastic, chemical, and labor would be about $97729.47; however, the individual prices are as follows:
Plastic (used for the bug spray bottle): About $400 per metric ton
Chemicals (active ingredients used in bug spray): DEET: About $1.40 per oz Lemon Eucalyptus: About $1.24 per oz Thyme (an anti-inflammatory): About $5 per oz
Electrodes: About $35 for a pack of 100
Stainless steel: About $3,145.00 per metric ton
Battery: About $0.50 per unit
Labor: $200.00 (minimum wage per 20 workers)
Land: $200,000 (Average listing for industrial properties for sale)
Mosquito Repellent Mat: http://www.dcmsme.gov.in/publications/pmryprof/chemical/ch17.pdf
Sales Price
The total price for this product would be about $24.00. The bracelets can be sold for $15.00, the spray for $4.00, and the battery for $5.00, adding up to a total of $24.00 per unit. We predict the manufacturing cost per bracelet will be $12.00. The extra $12.00 will go toward land, labor, and generating profit.
Market Size
There are about 3.3 billion people living in malaria-infected areas, we predict at least 500 million of these inhabitants will be interested and willing to buy our product. Considering our $24.00 product will be purchased by 500 million users, there stands a $1.2 billion dollar market. Five percent of this market would total to a $600 million market.
Because of high population density in these low-income areas, a high market size is produced, therefore ranking a three as a fundability score.
Fundability Discussion
This product fights a serious problem that has yet to find a definite cure. The product goes beyond the minimal forms of treatment currently being used in low developed countries such as bug spray and mosquito nets. The market size is large, as malarial infested countries support large populations and there is extreme interest in combating this disease. Aside from those living in low developing areas, travelers would also be interested in this product, as it would protect them during their time abroad. Much of this product is building off of current insect repellents and electroshock devices, making our product highly patonable. Our product is noninvasive and easy to use; however, people may be skeptical, and reluctant to try this innovation. Because this product shows a promising outlook, we believe it is highly fundable.
BME 100 Spring 2017
