CryoSack: Independent Hospital in the Home Recovery

As antimicrobial resistance intensifies, hospitals face increased pressure due to bed shortages and risks of hospital-acquired infections. Hospital-in-the-Home services address these challenges by allowing patients to receive essential intravenous antibiotic treatments at home, freeing up hospital beds, reducing infection risks, and enhancing patient outcomes. However, certain unstable antimicrobials require chilled delivery, often necessitating hospital stays. Research, including literature reviews, interviews with 25 patients, and autoethnographic studies, has revealed that current elastomeric infusers pose challenges in usability and comfort. This highlights the urgent need for a new device that maintains necessary cold temperatures while also improving comfort, usability, and patient dignity.

A soft cooler-bag designed to increase the comfort of patients who independently engage in everyday activities while undergoing Hospital-in-the-Home treatments. Custom engineered phase change ’ice-blocks’ are coupled with cryogenic insulation, to naturally conform to the movements and contours of patients. This enhances portability whilst ensuring consistent temperature control for sensitive antimicrobials. A multi-access system simplifies the replacement of ice packs and infusers throughout the day, and adjustable straps offer various wearing styles to meet diverse patient needs and lifestyles. This flexibility and ease of use empowers patients to effectively self-manage their treatment, facilitating a faster return to normal daily activities.

Design research and prototyping revealed several important insights into the complex user experience from integrating cooling elements around the elastomeric infuser. These insights established a spectrum between performance and comfort, guiding the CryoSack towards specific size to weight ratios that were easy, and ergonomic to wear, while meeting clinical needs. Prototyping CryoSack generated a new phase change material formulation, an efficient system for daily ice-pack and infuser replacement, multiple wearing options, and an active cooling docking station for overnight use. Additionally, a custom bayonet lid simplified the removal of the infuser, easing the process of changing and showering for patients.

CryoSack was developed alongside CryoCare as part of a parallel research initiative. While CryoCare investigated a vacuum-flask insulated solution, CryoSack showcases the advantages of utilising soft insulation methods. This investigation aimed to create a clinically effective product that is also stylish and desirable, empowering patients to feel proud of their appearance during treatment. Supported by ALPAKA Gear, CryoSack incorporates aerogel particles into ultra-thin, flexible nonwovens, creating advanced, soft insulation coupled with a reflective liner. This combination offers up to 8 hours of effective temperature control. By using aerogel, CryoSack meets clinical requirements while offering a sleek, comfortable, and practical soft exterior designed for all-day wear. Preliminary market research revealed that the majority of Hospital-in-the-Home products carry a distinctly clinical aesthetic. Extensive prototyping with technical materials that are both functional and fashionable was undertaken, alongside workshops with ALPAKA, enabling CryoSack to adopt a messenger bag aesthetic popular in urban street style. Incorporating direct feedback from users throughout its development, CryoSack has been fine-tuned to align with the popular aesthetic common to ALPAKA products, while effectively meeting the actual needs of patients and maintaining clinical efficacy. The prototyping and research resulted in three CryoSack sets currently undergoing testing with clinicians and patients.