2024-12-03

Q: What sets Enhanced Innovations (Phloton) apart from traditional compressor-refrigerant-based cooling systems in medical logistics?

Ankita Mittal: At Enhanced Innovations, Phloton was designed with a focus on the specific challenges of healthcare logistics, especially in rural and resource-constrained settings. Unlike typical compressor-refrigerant-based cooling, which is termed bulky, power-hungry, and even uses harmful chemicals, Phloton is lightweight, portable, and energy-efficient, having been fitted with leading thermoelectric cooling technology that makes it far easier to handle and maintain for last-mile health workers. Besides, it does not depend on harmful refrigerants, making it an eco-friendly choice, too. The compact size of the Phloton device and active cooling features guarantee that vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic samples can be moved to even the toughest terrains with complete safety.

Q: How does Phloton's real-time communication system work for continuous temperature monitoring?

Ankita Mittal: Equipped with an IoT-enabled intelligent temperature monitoring system, Phloton will continuously monitor the temperature data inside and outside the device and in real time relay it to the Mobile or Web Application based a cloud platform. This can be retrieved by healthcare workers or supervisors on their mobile devices. In case the temperature goes outside of the desired range, it will automatically send alerts on the spot site for immediate intervention. The real-time nature of this monitoring ensures the integrity of vaccines and medicines that are sensitive to temperature from the point of dispatch to the point of care, hence reducing spillages.

Q: What are the logistical challenges in transporting temperature-sensitive vaccines and biologics, and how does Phloton mitigate them?

Ankita Mittal: Transportation of vaccines and biologics remains one of the most challenging activities, especially in remote areas cut-off from major cities and towns. The biggest challenges for last-mile healthcare delivery usually concern proper temperature maintenance during transport, unreliable power sources, and real-time monitoring. Phloton has been designed to address these specific challenges and make basic healthcare accessible, and location agnostic. It maintains an internal, stable temperature of 4°C or lower, even when outside ambient temperatures can vary between -20°C and 65°C, for a period of at least 10 hours. Equipped with solar-powered charging, its portability ensures it can continue to work, even without reliable electricity. With real-time monitoring, health workers can track both temperature and location without wondering whether their valuable supplies are being handled safely or not.

Q: How does Phloton’s location tracking system work in real-time to ensure the safety of medical supplies during transit?

Ankita Mittal: Phloton’s GPS-enabled location tracking system ensures that the whereabouts of the device and its contents are always known. This system works in tandem with the temperature monitoring feature, so healthcare providers and logistics teams can see both where the device is and whether it’s maintaining the right temperature. Real-time tracking allows immediate response if there are any delays or deviations from the planned route, ensuring that vaccines and medicines are delivered on time and in optimal condition, regardless of the challenges on the ground.

Q: What are the main advantages of Phloton’s solar-powered refrigeration systems for healthcare facilities in off-grid regions?

Ankita Mittal: A key feature of Phloton is the fact that it can run on solar power, which makes it invaluable in health facilities in off-grid or no-good electricity areas. The refrigeration by solar power keeps the cold chain unbroken even in the absence of grid power. This inherently becomes very critical, especially in far-flung or rural areas where even the supply of life-saving vaccines and medicines is already limited. This solar charging system can give health workers the confidence that temperature-sensitive supplies can be stored and transported without fear of a power shortage.

Q: What are the key innovations in Phloton’s vaccine delivery system that make it suitable for remote healthcare facilities?

Ankita Mittal: Phloton is designed keeping in mind the challenges of remote healthcare delivery. The fact that it is easily portable and durable means health workers can have it move with them easily through difficult landscapes. The device maintains the required temperature for as long as 10 hours under extreme conditions, which is imperative on long trips in reaching the underserved area. Furthermore, it works on solar power, meaning even in places where access to grid power is low or nil, it keeps functioning. Real-time temperature and location monitoring is also a key factor in that healthcare workers can be confident that vaccines, medicines, or diagnostic samples will get to their destinations safely and in perfect condition, no matter how remote.