Solution using wax and human sweat will be in pilot production by spring

Waltham, MA –InnoCentive and SunNight Solar announces the conclusion of a Challenge posted last spring that sought the design of an affordable solar-powered device to prevent or limit the spread of malaria. 

“The effects of Malaria are devastating, with statistics citing a child’s death every 30 seconds,” states Dwayne Spradlin, CEO of InnoCentive, Inc.

“For all the technology advancements the world has to offer, an effective, low-cost solution for malaria continues to be a problem. SunNight Solar has played a critical role in helping the world’s less fortunate, from providing light in off the grid areas to combating deadly diseases, and we are proud to be part of this most recent, and incredibly important initiative.”

The World Health Organization estimates that each year 300-500 million cases of malaria occur, and more than one million people die from the disease, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa. To date the most effective prevention against malaria has been physical barriers, such as insecticide-treated bed nets, and other residual insecticides.

While these solutions are highly effective at reducing the spread of malaria, there are disadvantages. Among them are the potential dangers of human poisoning the environmental impact of using insecticides, and the fact that mosquitoes can quickly build resistance to the treatment within a few, short generations - making their eradication an increasingly costly endeavor.

 The winning solution was selected from among 18 highly qualified proposals that offered ways to leverage the power of the sun to prevent or limit the spread of malaria. InnoCentive Solver, Tom Kruer, was awarded $40,000 for his solution, which brings an elegantly low-tech approach to a problem that has thus far challenged the most sophisticated techniques available to mankind. 

“It’s extremely rewarding to have the chance to apply my expertise to solve Challenges with InnoCentive. Beyond the financial benefit, which is wonderful, I have a unique opportunity to ‘give back’ in a way that takes advantage of my skills and background. I also enjoy interacting with a community of like-minded inventors through the InnoCentive network and look forward to taking on more Challenges as my time permits,” he says.

The solution comprises a small, cone-shaped mosquito trap that incorporates inexpensive paraffin wax and human sweat as the main ingredients. During the day a container of wax absorbs solar energy as it melts – eliminating the need for costly photovoltaic cells and storage batteries – and then is brought into the house at night where the heat is released at approximately the temperature of the human body as the wax re-solidifies. 

Combined with a water based attractant derived from human sweat collected from a simple wrist band, the ingenious trap mimics the scent, moisture, and temperature profile of a sleeping body, attracting mosquitoes to the cone where they are trapped and can be easily disposed of.

The product is designed to be produced for under $10, making it affordable to communities throughout the developing world, and will be delivered through commercial and non-profit channels, as well as other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Pilot production of the solution is slated to begin in early February with full deployment targeted for May 2009 – bringing the proposal from concept to production within a matter of months. Field testing will be conducted in University laboratories in addition to malaria-prone communities throughout Africa, beginning with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This is the second time SunNight Solar has successfully tapped the InnoCentive Solver community – which acts ostensibly as the company’s research and development team – to create products. 

In 2008, SunNight Solar produced a dual-purpose solar light to serve as both a lamp and a flashlight, based on a solution from an InnoCentive Solver in New Zealand. The device is being used in African villages, Gaza Strip, and other areas without electricity, providing sufficient light for security at night, enabling children to study and allowing family members to safely walk outdoors after dark.

The Challenge is being supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, an InnoCentive partner, as part of its Accelerating Innovation for Development Initiative, which supports the application of new innovation models to solve challenges facing poor or vulnerable populations around the world. 

“What’s powerful about our partnership with InnoCentive and The Rockefeller Foundation is that we’ve created an entirely new way to deliver products – faster and more cost-effectively than could ever be done in a traditional business environment,” say Mark Bent, founder of SunNight Solar.

“We each contribute a supporting leg of the solution: InnoCentive provides the vehicle to take advantage of open innovation; The Rockefeller Foundation offers critical financial support; and we bring the necessary entrepreneurship. This model breaks the mold for how businesses can innovate and grow.”

For more information on InnoCentive, go to www.innocentive.com