Ergobass: a field-inspired innovation “made in Curie” to improve patient care

At the congress, Dr. Isabelle Fromantin introduced her latest innovation: the Ergobass bedpan.

The project was born in the Wounds and Healing Research Unit at Institut Curie, led by Dr. Fromantin. Their conclusion was clear: conventional bedpans cause discomfort, pain, and even complications such as pressure ulcers.

The Wounds and Healing Research Unit at Institut Curie 

©L'Institut Curie

A growing mismatch between standard bedpan dimensions and patients' changing body shapes — due to rising obesity rates — was identified as a major issue.

To address this, Ergobass was developed with a patient-centered approach. 

“Ergobass was born from a real, daily need observed in our patients,” explains Dr. Fromantin. “It’s a concrete response to a well-known issue in hospitals. "It also beautifully illustrates Curie’s DNA: fostering practical innovations through collective intelligence and multidisciplinary collaboration.”

The new bedpan design was co-developed with robotics engineers from Institut Curie’s Orsay site, blending healthcare expertise with technical know-how in a co-design dynamic.

An innovative bedpan, clinically validated for patient well-being

The Ergobass prototype stands out thanks to:

•    Ergonomic design adapted to all body types,
•    Enhanced pressure ulcer prevention through redesigned support zones,
•    Compatibility with hospital bedpan washers,
•    Intuitive handling for caregivers
 

A  blind comparative study conducted with 62 volunteer staff at Institut Curie revealed significant benefits of Ergobass over standard bedpans, including reduced pain and marked improvement in perceived comfort.

Maxime Chéron and Marguerite Nicodème from Institut Curie with the Ergobass prototype

Market objective: to make innovation quickly accessible to patients

With strong clinical and industrial potential, the Ergobass project has received strategic support from Institut Curie since its inception, including financial backing from the Carnot excellence label, held by Institut Curie since 2011.

“Identifying grassroots innovations and helping them scale is a key challenge,” says Dr. Cécile Campagne, Director of Institut Curie’s Technology Transfer Office and Deputy Director of Carnot Curie Cancer. “At Institut Curie, technology transfer is central to our strategy. We are deeply committed from the earliest stages—detection, development, awareness, and training. This dynamic allows us to turn inventions into useful, innovative treatments or products accessible to all.”

Ergobass is now entering a new phase, seeking an industrial partnership to co-develop the device. The goal: finalize design, obtain CE certification, and scale up manufacturing and distribution. Ultimately, this unique innovation could quickly expand hygiene and comfort solutions in healthcare facilities and significantly improve patient care.
 

[1] The World Congress of the SIDIIEF gathers more than 1,500 french-speaking nurses. Organized by the International Secretariat of Nurses in French-Speaking Countries (SIDIIEF), it aims to promote knowledge sharing, highlight nursing leadership, and promote the profession's contribution to public health.