Athena

What it does

Athena is a portable, thermoelectric, patient-managed cooling device consisting of a carry case and a wearable headpiece. It aims to provide a more accessible and effective option for scalp cooling.

Your inspiration

In 2019, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy, she availed of scalp-cooling treatment, and from observing how important this treatment was to her and the challenges she faced, it has motivated me to research this area to improve the quality of life for patients and their care staff.

How it works

Product Features Thermoelectric Components: Utilises peltier semiconductors similarly used in consumer products like travel coolers, providing a significantly lower cost, lightweight alternative to the current refrigeration technology systems being used. Portable Battery: Uses a powerful, yet lightweight 116Ah battery allowing for 3.5 hours of use for commuting to and from the hospital Closed Water Circulation System: Uses compression sealed, polyurethane-insulated tubing to circulate water to the headpiece. Headpiece: Lightweight outer shell lined with thin silicone tubing, once water is cirulated, compresses to the scalp for an effective fit for various head shapes. Strap: Adjustable shoulder strap facilitates easy carrying and commute

Design process

I started by observing the daily life of patients during infusion hospital visits, speaking to nurses, and conducting interviews with patients and survivors. This allowed me to develop empathy and gain a deep understanding of the needs of the people I was designing for. I brainstormed numerous ideas to potentially enhance the quality of life for patients and their caregivers on the day of receiving chemotherapy treatment. I created rough prototypes to simulate and test these concepts, narrowing them down to three options. Eventually, I chose to proceed with the cooling solution as it best addressed the users' needs. Excited to learn about cooling technologies, I decided to build a working prototype to test the capabilities of the Peltier semiconductors. Using a Peltier computer cooling fan system, a diaphragm pump, my mum's old suitcase, and my dad's plane battery, I was able to create a strong proof of concept to gather valuable feedback to develop the concept. Following this, I focused on the product's form, creating cardboard and foam models and determining functionality aspects and touchpoints to ensure the best user experience. Ultimately, I arrived at my final model, Athena, which was crafted using SolidWorks 3D CAD modeling.

How it is different

The product utilises affordable thermoelectric components, making it more accessible to the consumer market. The most expensive component is the battery, which costs 115 euros. It's more portable than the current leading products on the market, which use refrigeration technology requiring constant plugged in power. Athena, at full battery power, can run for 3.5 hours, allowing the patient to commute to and from the hospital while cooling and move around during infusion for bathroom visits, etc. Athena allows patients to spend less time in the hospital. The infusion day is already long enough. Current products require the patient to arrive 30 minutes early and stay for 90 minutes after infusion for pre and post cooling. With Athena, patients can manage this aspect of treatment themselves and seamlessly integrate into an infusion appointment with no extra time or attention required, cooling from the comfort of their own homes.

Future plans

To elevate Athena to the next level, extensive research and development is required. While working on this project, I have been fortunate to network with Luminate Medical, a company in Galway, Ireland, dedicated to minimising the side effects of chemotherapy. They have extended an internship offer to me as a research and development engineer. I have accepted and am eager to apply the insights gained from my own research and development to contribute to their mission.

Awards

Granted the HSE Design on the Frontline Innovation Scholarship for Athena