Impact
Blood loss is the leading cause of preventable death both on the battlefield and at home. Up to 90% of preventable combat deaths are due to hemorrhage, and globally, blood loss is the number one cause of death for people ages 1–46. Despite extraordinary medical advances, too many lives are lost simply because blood and critical medications can’t survive the journey to those who need them most.
ThermaTrust changes that. Our portable, battery-powered medical cooler maintains precise temperatures for blood, medications, and biologics anywhere — from the front lines of combat to the back of an ambulance. Using advanced thermoelectric technology and phase change materials, it keeps contents between 1–6°C in extreme environments, without ice, compressors, or constant power.
This innovation saves lives — and money. The biopharma industry loses over $35 billion each year due to temperature-related spoilage. By miniaturizing laboratory-grade refrigeration and integrating smart sensors, ThermaTrust prevents waste, extends shelf life, and ensures every drop of blood and every dose of medicine arrives viable.
In military operations, ThermaTrust enables a distributed blood supply, empowering every medic to carry life-saving blood into battle and deliver transfusions during the “golden hour.” In civilian EMS and disaster response, it ensures paramedics can administer critical care immediately, even miles from the nearest hospital.
ThermaTrust transforms cold storage from a passive container into an active, intelligent, lifesaving system. By making portable, connected, and reliable refrigeration universally available, we strengthen the entire chain of survival — from battlefield to bedside.
What I'll do with $5,000
The $5,000 award will directly accelerate engineering and prototype development for the ThermaTrust portable medical cooler, our handheld, battery-powered refrigeration unit designed to preserve blood, biologics, and medications in any environment.
Our next milestone is to complete the beta prototype, integrating the cooling system, advanced materials, and embedded sensors into a production-ready housing. Funds will be used to:
Refine and fabricate core thermal components — machining the aluminum heat sinks, internal containment structures, and interface plates that manage heat transfer between the cooling modules and payload chamber.
Integrate electronics and control software — including a microcontroller, temperature sensors, and power regulation circuitry to maintain precise temperature stability between 1–6°C.
Prototype enclosure and ergonomics — 3D print and machine the housing to validate fit, weight, and durability under field conditions.
Conduct thermal performance testing — verifying hold time, temperature uniformity, and battery life under simulated battlefield and EMS environments.
Every dollar will move us closer to a commercial demonstration unit—a rugged, field-ready system we can place in the hands of medics and paramedics for validation trials.
The prototype built with this funding will also inform manufacturability decisions as we prepare for small-batch pilot production and eventual FDA registration under 21 CFR §864.9700 as a Class II exempt device.
In short, this $5,000 investment turns engineering blueprints into a tangible, lifesaving product—advancing ThermaTrust from proof of concept to operational reality.
Quick Bio
Spencer is an engineer, innovator, and EMT who’s led projects from Skunk Works to the front lines—turning bold ideas into real-world solutions.