A portable genital cleaning system

The project was done as a part of Bachelor's coursework for Engineering Design and fabrication course. The aim was to design a solution and develop a working prototype. The problem area could be selected from the healthcare, social or agriculture sector.

Duration : July 2017- April 2018

Domain of work

Menstruation is a natural phenomenon but still, a comprehensive approach towards menstrual sanitation and hygiene is still not adopted
in India. Mainstreaming of menstrual hygiene management into the present sanitation model is prudent.

The aim was to facilitate adequate menstrual hygiene management, a basic right of every woman guided by the three As.

AVAILABILITY

ACCESSIBILITY

ACCEPTABILITY

of sanitary products for women

of hygienic sanitation and proper disposal facilities

of the phenomenon in the society

User Research

Location: Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Areas covered: Chandi Tola (Village), Government city hospital, Sadar Market, Railway station, Schools, Washing Depot

Observations

Deep Interviews

Pop-up Interviews

at public toilets and unorganised sectors

Insights

Women restricted in homes during periods
Girls skip school during periods
Common washrooms at school in villages
Public washrooms are not clean
Women use washrooms at restaurants/hotels in the market place
Usage of rags and unhygienic materials instead of pads
No proper bins for pad disposal in trains
No washroom at workplace
Taboo in the village
Face difficulty in changing in trains/buses
Overuse of pad during work hours
Unavailability of pads in rural areas

“The Sulabh here is not clean, I request nurses at the nearby hospital to let me use the washroom.”

Survey

Around 60 women of all age groups and diverse economical and professional background were asked to take a survey. The questionnaire helped quantify the problem and validated the insights

Problems

Needs

Not changing pads

Cleaning area

washing facilities

Space for changing

Infections due to overuse

Water shortage

Absence of hygenic washrooms

“To design an easy to use, low maintenance and portable product which facilitates proper and hygienic cleaning of the genital area where the provision for the same is not adequate”

These ladies have a problem....

Need groups

Ideation

Analogous inspirations like wudu washing, spray cans used by barbers, asthma pumps etc. were used while generating ideas. The ideas were discussed in the team
sessions and to selected ones were grouped and visualized

CONCEPT EVALUATION

Various concepts for each part were ideated and some
were chosen and refined. These concepts are evaluated
against factors important for performance. The concept
selected were merged andthe product was designed in detail.

Embodiment Design

PUGH MATRIX

DIMENSIONING

The data from ‘Indian anthropometric dimensions for Ergonomic Design Practice’ was referred for fixing
the dimensions of the product. Maximum height and minimum height was used to decide the length of
rod in open and close position. The seat size was fixed using maximum female hip breadth.

Detail Design

Seat:
Length of support (extended)=89.9cm
Length of support (compact)= 40cm
Seat width=50cm

Threefold rod with adjustable height
Hinge joint (tight) at base and seat for
adjusting angle

Drain system:
Vacuum zipping
Opening for draining out waste

Water Storage:
Cylindrical tank
Capacity : 2 litres
Standard hand Shower
Hand vaccum pump

Prototype testing

Alpha prototype

Beta prototype

Once the prototype was tested, changes were identified and a beta prototype was fabricated using the selected materials and mechanisms. The drainage system, the water pump was attached to make a working prototype.

The product was fabricated in the manufacturing lab of the
institute. The prototype was a crude version fabricated
to check if it meets the engineering specifications and
for verification of the functionality. The product was used by three users to validate the concept.

Team: Anubhuti Gupta, Deepak Charnawat, Deepak Meena, Kanishka Munshi, Rishti Gupta

Major tasks: Project Management, Design Research, Ideation, Concept Evaluation