Induction of labour is an increasingly common intervention in childbirth. To improve the experience for women undergoing the procedure, the Norwegian startup Induvita has developed the Iola induction kit. EGGS design has helped design the products and ensure the patient experience is a priority. The Iola induction kit consists of three parts: A balloon catheter, a speculum and a prefilled unit for filling the balloon. All these parts are designed to feel as comfortable and non-invasive as possible for the pregnant woman. The materials are smooth and soft to touch (traditional speculums are made of metal), and the shapes are rounded. Each part is designed to adjust to a pregnant woman’s body, but at the same time being the preferred tools for doctors and midwives. The procedure is simple; the balloon catheter is being placed through the cervix and inflated with saltwater to simulate a baby's head. This will stimulate the cervix, and induces the labour without medications.

I the USA alone, 937 000 women are being induced yearly, and this number is growing every year. This is also a trend globally due to several reasons eg. diabetes, high BMI or that the mother's age is high. In Norway 30% of all labours are being induced. Due to its high efficacy and low risk, most labour inductions in Norway are done with balloon catheters inserted through the maternal cervix to simulate pressure on the cervix and induce labour. However, the device currently used for this procedure is not explicitly designed for its purpose: The catheter is usually a male urinary catheter, and the speculum is the same speculum used for non-pregnant women. The Iola induction kit is the first developed specifically for pregnant women. The use of balloon catheter as preferred the method (instead of medications) is a rapidly increasing trends in other countries as well.

To ensure that the new product is designed to provide the best experience possible for the woman giving birth, as well as being an easy tool to use for midwives and obstetricians, we gathered extensive user insight from these user groups. We interviewed women who had experienced balloon induction and involved midwives and obstetricians in workshops to identify their needs. With this as a basis, we worked on concepts and mockups. The final product is designed in materials, shapes and with functionality based on the female body. This offers a better experience of the induction for the person undergoing the procedure.