Case Study: PolarCool speeds prototype-to-product development with Protolabs

Protolabs’ automated tools speed up iterative development for vital medical cooling unit

PolarCool, the Swedish medical technology company behind the PolarCap® System, needed to develop a portable cooling unit that could quickly and safely lower brain temperature after head trauma at sports venues. Working with product design agency OIM Sweden, the team used Protolabs’ injection moulding services and automated quoting tools to iterate on the housing design and validate manufacturability early in development.

Protolabs helped PolarCool and OIM move from prototype to production by providing rapid feedback on design and cost, fast-delivered prototypes, and technical expert support. The early design process revealed that an initial one-piece cover would be too large for the injection moulding machines, allowing the team to redesign before launch. The resulting PolarCap System proved cost-effective to manufacture and has shown significant clinical impact, including shortening recovery time and reducing long absences by over 70% in treated ice hockey players.

PolarCool

Erik Andersson

Chief Executive Officer