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Smart Temperature Monitoring Label with Last Mile indicator
Photo: Marpe Tanaka

Smart Cold Chain Indicator Label

A miniaturised temperature logger based on printed electronics for drug monitoring in field holds a potential for multimillion deployment. This sCCI, smart Cold Chain Monitoring system, with an electrochromic display for Last Mile readout, moves closer to industrial production.

”The potential with the printed sensor is tremendous and will provide a much better aid allowing the end-user to determine if the product is usable or not. The further out into the field you are, the harder it is to maintain the right temperature in the logistic chain which is vitally important in maintaining the quality of the vaccine or the medicines and in the end it affects the care we give our patients. Other alternative transport solutions available today are often very expensive", says Marpe Tanaka at the Innovation Unit at MSF/Doctors Without Borders.  Please note: MSF is not an active part in this project but played an important role in defining the initial project. This second phase focuses on upscaling industrially.

Drug transport in hot climates are particularly vulnerable, especially in conflict remote areas where transports are made under difficult conditions. This is a problem the organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International (Doctors Without Borders) and many other humanitarian organisations such as PATH, GAVI, WHO and UNICEF would like to solve. In co-operation with MSF, RISE has developed a demonstrator of an low-cost, all-printed hybrid temperature sensor for simple and efficient monitoring of drugs in field. 

The temperature sensor consists of printed components and silicon chip, forming an integrated measuring system for the monitoring of temperatures. This sensor system can track if a package with sensitive drugs, such as vaccine, has been exposed to temperatures outside a predefined interval. The result is presented on the integrated display. The temperature sensor tag can also be attached on the package after a repackaging which allows for a surveillance that can be flexible and adapted to different situations.

The original idea for the sensor platform came from MSF within the framework for the open innovations project ”PEA Open” which is financed by the European regional development fund. The idea originated in MSF, looking for ways to create better and cheaper temploggers by a complete analysis of the supply chain into the Last Mile. A project report by MSF is found here.

With the financial help of Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova, two projects have been focusing on the development of the system

- one aiming at creating a proof of concept and a minor field study to check robustness and usability

- the second, ending in June 2019, is aiming at upscaling and securing the production chain for the sCCI.

Bioactive substances such as vaccines are heavily affected by temperature fluctuations. To make sure that they are still active, the integrity of the cold chain is heavily monitored in pharmacology. Since great values and lives are at stake, there's a multitude of actors in the humanitarian field who are constantly trying to improve the Cold Chain: PATHGAVIWHOUnicef and MSF  among others.

To date, many parties have taken part in the development of the system and we'd like to thank all involved so far:

MSF Swedish Innovation Unit, MSF OCA,  Beneli, TU Delft, PATH, FLEX, Imprint Energy and TSS

Live demo by MSF Innovation Unit - early prototype.

https://vimeo.com/218591828

Läkare utan gränsers Ana Laura Santos diskuterar innovation och den smarta etiketten

Länk till video:  https://youtu.be/VB4dI7ZvmB8

Field test in Bangladesh by MSF in q1 2017

Summary

Project name

Smart Temperature Monitoring Label

Status

Active

RISE role in project

Design and integration

Project start

Duration

20 months

Total budget

8MSEK

Partner

TSS, FLEX, Beneli, Imprint Energy, RISE, A great consortium which covers the entire value chain from research to market.

Funders

Vinnova

Coordinators

Project members

External press

Supports the UN sustainability goals

3. Good health and well-being
10. Reduced inequalities
Björn Norberg

Contact person

Björn Norberg

Affärsutvecklare

+46 10 228 41 21

Read more about Björn

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