Many factors can damage medication, including heat, air, light, and moisture. Exposure of medication to inappropriate conditions can render them ineffective, or even harmful if ingested. For this reason it is important to keep in mind that where medications are stored can affect its potency and safety. To help protect medications, the innovation – LifeinaBox – came about. The aim of the fridge is to protect fragile medications, the types required by those who have conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and Crohn’s Disease.
The LifeinaBox was developed by French medical entrepreneur Uwe Diegel. The inventor has been involved with the healthcare sector for 20 years, working with forward-thinking companies such as Microlife, Spengler and iHealth. With the new invention there are some protective features and some digital enhancements.
With the protective features, the portable refrigerator operates between 2 and 8°C (36 and 46°F), which is the appropriate temperature to keep medicines cool and the power comes from a built-in battery. The device can also be powered from a car via the cigarette lighter (110-220 volts). The fridge is hardy, coming with a brushed aluminum finish and yet it only weighs 900 grams (or two pounds). In terms of size, it has sufficient capacity to hold 8 regular medication pens.
The digital enhancements are that the fridge is controlled by apps, and the apps can also be used to track important information remotely via Bluetooth conenctivity. Through a smartphone the temperature can be continually assessed. The app will also warn the user if it is time for them to take your next dose of vital medication, so that the user can improve your medication effectiveness. The Lifeina app will also track the battery charge of the refrigerator and warn the owner when it is too low.
The new device is an example of how a start-up can engage with the burgeoning digital health market and come up with something practical and different, which will appeal to a range of consumers across different demographics and with varying medical needs.