Korean develops 'artificial gill'
Triton / Courtesy of Indiegogo
By Ko Dong-hwan
Yeon Jae-byun
A start-up company co-founded by a Korean designer has developed a device that allows swimmers to breathe underwater without specialized equipment such as an oxygen tank.
Yeon Jae-byun, who co-founded and is in charge of design in the Korea-Sweden joint company YEKA innotec, has developed “Triton,” an oxygen respirator containing microporous hollow fiber with openings smaller than water molecules but big enough for oxygen to pass through.
A powerful micro-compressor run by a lithium-ion battery extracts and stores oxygen inside the device.
The wearer can swim 4.5 meters underwater for up to 45 minutes with a two-hour charge. The lightweight device is 29 centimeters long and 12 centimeters wide.
“With Triton there’s no heavy equipment, complicated safety procedures or training,” online crowd-funding platform Indiegogo’s webpage explained. “Enjoy a sense of underwater freedom unavailable until now. Just imagine exploring clear waters, alongside tropical fish, without bulky equipment or having to surface for air.”
Founded in 2013, YEKA has raised $590,000 through Indiegogo. This is 11 times more than its target of $50,000 target.
Triton is on sale for $299 from this month. YEKA plans to make its first shipment in December.