Wearable long-lasting topical cooling for post-op pain relief
Official title: Wearable long duration postoperative topical cryotherapy for enhanced pain management
Funded at Cryo Ergonomics INC · NIH-11313074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable, long-duration topical cooling device is being developed to help manage pain after surgery and reduce the need for opioid medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cryo Ergonomics INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $312,823 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AT013712-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals undergoing trunk-related surgeries who are open to using a new wearable pain-relief technology as part of their recovery plan.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unable or unwilling to use a wearable cooling device or those with conditions contraindicating topical therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a lightweight, ergonomic cryotherapy system designed for the human trunk to provide ongoing pain relief after surgery. It focuses on improving multimodal pain management as part of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, with the goal of decreasing opioid use. The work involves design and engineering of a wearable cooling device, informed by advances in cooling tech and consumer electronics, and tested through simulations and non-clinical assessments before human use. The researchers plan to address practical challenges like comfort, durability, and usability to support weeks of post-surgical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could reduce reliance on opioids after surgery and improve recovery experiences for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence supports topical cryotherapy for pain relief, but long-duration, ergonomic trunk-focused devices are a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cryo Ergonomics INC
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diebold, Roger — Cryo Ergonomics INC
- Study coordinator: Diebold, Roger
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.