"India faces a critical organ transplant gap, with demand far exceeding successful procedures due to low donation rates, poor infrastructure, and outdated Organ Transport and Preservation practices. Thousands of patients need heart, kidney, and liver transplants annually, yet only a fraction are performed. A key challenge is primitive preservation using ice filled coolers, causing uncontrolled cooling, organ damage, and limited transport time.
To address this, the LifeBox project by the UTSAAH Lab, IISc Bangalore, focuses on developing an affordable, indigenous, state of art healthcare device for Multi Organ preservation and transport. Using a rigorous, requirement driven design framework, the project translated research insights into traceable concepts, low fidelity prototypes, and usability tested refinements.
LifeBox explores three device verticals: Hypothermic Preservation through Lifebox Only Cooling Device, hypothermic perfusion systems for uniform cooling and nutrient delivery, and advanced reconditioning devices to improve organ viability, ultimately enhancing transplant success in India."