Cooling cap wins innovation competition at Medtech

Primasil Silicones has won the top accolade in the Exhibitor Innovations Competition at the Medtech World Awards for its technical development of a cooling cap

The cap brings relief to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and reduces the risk of hair-loss during treatment.

The company worked with its academic partner the University of Huddersfield to develop the cooling cap for Paxman.

Chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells and can cause atrophy of hair root bulbs.

The Paxman scalp cooling system essentially consists of a compact refrigeration system connected to a silicone rubber cap.

By lowering the scalp temperature immediately before, after and during treatment blood flow to the follicles is reduced and damage is minimised.

Primasil created a silicone rubber formulation that gave the reusable cooling cap greater flexibility and enabled the coolant running through the cap to be in close contact with the scalp.

Primasil medical division manager, Caroline Herdman, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award. It is such an honour to receive recognition in an industry where product innovation really does matter.

“Silicone rubber is a remarkable material and with subtle alterations to its chemistry we can develop the ideal material to meet specific needs.“