Innovations

CryoPop: A Low-Cost Solution for Treating Cervical Cancer

Device Features: Portable and durable device that can be used by midlevel providers Efficient use of CO2 for cryotherapy User-friendly design Collaborators: Johns Hopkins University Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design, the United States Agency for International Development and the GE Foundation Contact: For more information on this project, contact Brinnon Mandel at Brinnon.Mandel@jhpiego.org.

Global Health Need

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, with 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths reported each year. Approximately 80% of cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries, where more than 95% of women have never had a Pap test. Many of these cases can be avoided through early screening and treatment and now also through vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer. Improved accessibility of reliable, low-cost cervical cancer screening and treatment is needed in developing countries to achieve a marked reduction in cervical cancer deaths.

Low-Cost Technology Solution

Jhpiego and the Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design at Johns Hopkins University (JHU-CBID) have developed the CryoPop, a low-cost, durable cryotherapy device to be used to treat precancerous cervical lesions. The device can be used by mid-level health care providers within the existing protocol for cervical cancer screening and treatment, and improves upon the existing cryotherapy devices through the following features: Fraction of the cost of current cryoguns Reduced quantity of CO2 used for cryotherapy, allowing for portability and greater cost efficiency Utilizes simple, locally available supplies Appropriate for use within the Single Visit Approach for cervical cancer screening and treatment Does not change current training and treatment protocols

Current Status and Future of the CryoPop

Jhpiego and JHU-CBID engineers are working with end-users to refine the device components and gather bench and clinical data about performance prior to additional field studies.