An Argentine car mechanic with no medical training has created a device that experts say could revolutionize childbirth and save thousands of lives. Jorge Odón, inspired by a YouTube trick for removing corks from wine bottles, developed what is now known as the Odon Device, a breakthrough tool for assisted vaginal deliveries.
The story began in Odón’s kitchen, where he experimented with household items to test his idea. He used a glass jar to mimic the womb, his daughter’s wrist to represent a baby, and a cloth bag sewn by his wife to replicate the tool. The result was a simple but ingenious concept: a lubricated plastic sleeve with an inflatable bag that gently grips a baby’s head and helps guide it safely through the birth canal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the device as a safer and more affordable alternative to traditional forceps and suction cups. Unlike those instruments, which often require highly trained specialists and can carry risks for both mother and child, the Odon Device is easy to use, even for non-specialists. This makes it especially valuable for rural hospitals and developing regions, where maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high.
Backed by global medical technology company Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), the device is already being deployed in clinical settings and has been hailed as a potential game-changer. Doctors believe it could also help reduce the growing number of unnecessary C-sections worldwide by providing a safe, controlled option when complications arise during delivery.
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The mechanics of the tool are straightforward yet effective. During labor, the lubricated sleeve is inserted into the birth canal and positioned around the baby’s head. A manual pump inflates the air chamber, creating a secure but gentle grip. With steady traction aligned to the mother’s contractions, the device assists in guiding the baby through the pelvis. Once the head emerges, the sleeve detaches automatically, allowing the rest of the body to be delivered naturally.
For Odón, what started as a casual thought, “Could this work for babies stuck during birth?”; has turned into a global medical innovation. His invention proves that life-saving ideas can sometimes come from the most unexpected places. From a wine cork trick on YouTube to a WHO-backed medical device, the Odon Device is rewriting the story of childbirth and bringing hope to millions of mothers and babies around the world.
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