The University of Leeds and Paxman Coolers Limited KTP 24_25 R2

A chemotherapy patient’s scalp temperature must be held precisely at a cooling cap’s target for hours to prevent hair loss, but current devices lack the sensors to monitor and adjust that temperature in real time. This project addresses a practical gap: existing cooling caps for chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) are passive. They cool the scalp but cannot track individual patient responses, detect when the cap shifts, or alert clinicians to a loss of contact. Without feedback, cooling can be uneven, reducing effectiveness and patient comfort. The researchers will embed new sensor technologies into both new and existing cooling devices, turning them into “smart” medical devices connected via an Internet of Things (IoT) strategy. If successful, the system could automatically adjust cooling based on real-time data, log performance for each session, and alert staff to problems before hair loss occurs. This would improve the reliability of CIA treatment and the overall patient experience during chemotherapy. The impact is direct and practical: better hair preservation for patients, fewer failed sessions, and a smoother clinical workflow. It is not fundamental science—it is applied engineering that upgrades a proven medical device with modern sensing and connectivity.