Purpose

One of the largest challenges within developing countries is the sterilization of medical tools and instruments. Diseases and infections are transmitted extremely easily when equipment is not sterilized properly, which becomes dangerous to patients. In many of these countries, steam autoclaves are utilized as a sterilization technique. However, the cost associated with these devices and the need for electricity makes them near impossible to use in most developing countries. In this case, hospitals are then turning to simpler, but less sterile, ways to clean their medical instruments. This situation leads to disease and infection within patients, which becomes extremely dangerous within hospitals. We plan to make an affordable, low maintenance, practical device that will sterilize medical instruments properly. 

The Solution:

Dry heat sterilization has a similar concept to autoclaves but could be done with fewer materials. This design would solar powered. there would be glass enclosing a reflective insulated container. inside the container needs to get to 300F  so must have a large area for light to come in but a thin depth to minimize the volume. It will be slower than the autoclave but more cost-efficient and is it is large enough it will be more effective. The mechanical design is simple but will work well. This solar-powered method of sterilization is very accessible due to its low cost and inessential use of electricity. This makes it a prime mechanism for instrument sterilization in developing countries that do not have access to high-cost materials or electricity.