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Sliding Tampon Female Condom

Wei Zhang of QX-System in the U.S. will design a simple applicator to make it easier and more comfortable to use female condoms. Although they may be more enjoyable to use, female condoms are much less popular than male condoms. This is partly due to the difficulty of inserting them correctly, which can be awkward and involve actions deemed inappropriate in some cultures. Their sliding tampon applicator is a flexible tube surrounded by a soft balloon, which is positioned inside the female condom and can be inserted like a regular tampon. Once the condom is in position, the applicator can be removed and reused. They will identify the optimal materials for the construction of the applicator, manufacture the product, and perform clinical trials to evaluate its performance and inform further refinements.

More information about Develop the Next Generation of Condom (Round 12)

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is part of the Grand Challenges partnership network. Visit www.grandchallenges.org to view the map of awarded grants across this network and grant opportunities from partners.