A new reusable pessary lets women with pelvic organ prolapse insert and remove the device themselves, avoiding repeated clinic visits for fitting and adjustment. Pelvic organ prolapse affects millions of women worldwide, yet current treatments are often inadequate. Standard pessaries require a clinician to fit them, frequently cause discomfort, and must be removed and cleaned by a healthcare professional. This creates long waiting times, poor fit, and a heavy burden on both patients and health systems. The problem is growing as populations age and obesity rates rise. The EV3 Pessary expands to fit any anatomy, is made from eco-friendly reusable materials, and comes with a website that guides women through self-management. If successful, it could reduce clinicians’ workload, cut waste from single-use devices, and improve quality of life for women who currently struggle with ill-fitting or inconvenient treatments. For health systems, this means fewer appointments, lower costs, and better clinical outcomes. The project aligns with the Women’s Health Strategy for England and the NHS Long Term Plan.
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EV3 is a UK-based medical device SME led by a core project team of Dr Aizemea Okojie (project lead/CEO/CMO), Anthony Ajose (project manager/technical lead) and Kevin Futero (CTO/full-stack developer). Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition that affects over 200M women worldwide and is set to increase by 50% by 2050\. It causes physical discomfort, impacts body image and quality of life, and incurs significant financial costs, with the NHS and US spending £700M and £3.7B, respectively per annum. Current treatments are inadequate, with the issue exacerbated by obesity, ageing and menopause, resulting in increased prevalence and significant social and psychological burdens on women. In the short term, POP management results in long wait times and frequent side effects. A projected 50% increase in POP cases could cost the global economy £99.4B annually, significantly affecting stakeholders and the healthcare industry. EV3 is developing an innovative self-manageable pessary that expands to fit any anatomy, accompanied by a website for supported self-management. This eco-friendly and reusable product is specifically designed for menopausal women over 50 and the obese suffering from POP. The EV3 Pessary's unique features, such as its reusability, flexible sizing and self-manageability, significantly reduce discomfort and poor fit issues. This innovative solution is projected to save healthcare systems £300M annually, improve clinical outcomes and reduce clinicians' workload by 30%. It aligns with the Women's Health Strategy for England and the NHS Long Term Plan. The EV3 Pessary offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution with a lifetime saving of £13K per patient, generating £1M in revenue within five years.
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