A GLOBAL EFFORT TO SAVE 169,000 LIVES

Ellavi UBT supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3: To reduce, by the year 2030, the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births (currently it is around 216 deaths per 100,000 live births).

Postpartum hemorrhage:
A treatable condition that kills 112,000 mothers a year.

Postpartum hemorrhage can happen to any woman anywhere, but 99% of all deaths occur in low resource areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa. The deaths of these women leave children without mothers and communities devastated. These deaths can be prevented.

The Need, By the Numbers

14 million annual cases of postpartum hemorrhage.

120,000 estimated annual deaths from postpartum hemorrhaging.

There are estimated 800,000 annual cases where uterotonics (drug interventions) are ineffective (sub-Saharan Africa 500,000 and India 350,000).

About 11,000 hysterectomies could be averted in one year in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Ellavi UBT:
Turning the tide in the global effort to reduce Maternal Mortality.

Introducing the Ellavi uterine balloon tamponade, or UBT. This innovative medical device is designed to address the challenges caregivers face: to stop postpartum bleeding due to uterine atony.

The Ellavi UBT was designed in Africa for Africa by a biomedical engineering firm, Sinapi. Sinapi designs and manufactures high quality, affordable medical devices that have a life-saving impact.

Impactful & Cost Effective

Ellavi UBT provides a better option that fills the gap between prohibitively expensive UBTs and condom catheter balloons assembled at point of care. Ellavi UBT is fully assembled, quick to deploy, cost-effective and clinically tested. It is priced at a mere 1/20th of the cost of expensive UBTs produced in developed countries.

Ellavi UBT is a regulated medical device (CE Marked)

Clinical trial shows Ellavi UBT is effective and safe for use.

1/20th the cost of expensive UBTs.


“Evaluating the Ellavi UBT clinically resulted in no complications and all patients included in the case series had a good outcome. The device will contribute towards reducing maternal deaths due to postpartum hemorrhage.”

— Gerhard Theron, Emeritus professor and former head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

How Ellavi works
Ellavi Uterine Balloon Tamponade (UBT)

Deploys Quickly

Ellavi UBT is pre-assembled, fills in under one minute, and acts swiftly to stop bleeding. It is easy to use and, once trained, any maternal health care provider should
be able to insert it.

Free-Flow System

Water moves freely between the balloon and the bag. As soon as the uterus regains its ability to contract, the water is pushed back towards the bag. This provides a visual indication of improved uterine contractility and facilitates faster balloon removal.

Vertical Pressure

Simply lifting the bag allows water to fill the balloon. Adjusting the vertical height of the bag controls pressure between the balloon and the uterus. This pressure needs to be slightly higher than the blood pressure in the uterus to stop bleeding.

Ready to purchase? Call us today: +27 21 887 5260 or visit our Resources page for more information.

A solution for which the time has come.

Solving the problem required a dedicated team to work together to save lives. This collaboration between Sinapi, PATH, and key partners such as the South African Medical Research Council has advanced the Ellavi UBT solution.

Sinapi and PATH filling the gap

about Sinapi

Sinapi biomedical was founded with the purpose to provide medical devices with clinical benefit. Sinapi devices have as a first priority a practical improvement compared to competitive products. This provides the motivation and a belief that, as a team, we are making a long term contribution towards advancing health care. Sinapi manufactures and commercializes the Ellavi UBT product.

about PATH

PATH is the leader in global health innovation. An international nonprofit organization, that saves lives and improves health, especially among women and children. By mobilizing partners around the world, PATH takes innovations, such as the Ellavi to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs.