Blloom: Companion for Fertility Treatment

What it does

Blloom makes daily self-injections during infertility treatment easier and safer. First-time users can inject with one hand. Its built-in insulation keeps medication safe, reducing anxiety. The product’s soft curves and a hidden needle ease discomfort.

Your inspiration

South Korea’s fertility rate has dropped to 0.75, yet many still undergo IVF treatment to have children. IVF often involves up to three self-injections daily for over a month, but the process is challenging. Injections require both hands and exposed skin, making public use difficult. Bulky coolers limit mobility and disrupt daily routines, as the medication must be kept cold. These burdens often force people to cancel personal plans or even leave their jobs. To address this, we created Blloom: a self-injection device that is easy, safe, and discreet.

How it works

Blloom features a fixed internal plunger, only requiring replacement of a drug-filled cartridge with its own rubber seal. This design enables one device to be used with multiple cartridges, reducing preparation time and medical waste. With a single button press, users can insert the needle and inject medication. This mechanism is driven by a semi-circular cam that rotates in two stages: from 0° to 90° to insert the needle, and from 90° to 270° to inject the medication. After use, a spring returns the needle and cartridge to their original positions. Inside the device, a 2mm thick vacuum wall and phase changing material (PCM) are used to keep the medication at a safe temperature of 2–8°C for about six hours. Also, a thermochromic marking that changes color according to temperature clearly indicates the medication’s current state. Lastly, device supports up to 3 pre-filled cartridges fits within the insulated space and supports vertical needle attachment.

Design process

At the beginning, we investigated the societal factors surrounding infertility and Korea’s low birth rate to better understand the core issues. Through in-depth interviews with IVF patients, we identified key challenges in the self-injection process. We then reenacted the entire procedure, documenting each step to analyze both the emotional and physical burdens involved. We found that frequent self-injections, up to three times a day for over a month, disrupt daily life and can cause emotional distress. This led us to our central question: How might we help infertility patients maintain their routines while managing injections more comfortably? We identified three key product needs: portability, ease of use, and cold storage. Based on these, we began developing a design and mechanism solution. In a participatory workshop with IVF patients and nurses, we refined our concept. Using 3D-printed prototypes, we conducted repeated tests to optimize form and function. To ensure temperature control, we simulated real-life conditions, confirming that the device keeps medication safely at 2–8°C. Lastly, through real-world usability testing and additional interviews with doctors and patients, we validated that Blloom offers a truly user-centered solution for infertility care.

How it is different

Blloom is designed to make repeated self-injections during infertility treatment more intuitive and stable, helping patients to stay on track with treatment. Users had to anxiously look down when using traditional syringes. Blloom solves this issue with a semi-circular cam mechanism that ensures a consistent needle insertion angle and depth, minimizing movement for safer, more accurate injections under the shirt. Its soft, ergonomic form avoids a clinical look, reducing psychological stress and allowing discreet use in public. The modular plunger and cartridge system simplifies replacement and also minimizes waste. A built-in insulated compartment maintains medication at 2–8°C for over six hours without bulky cooling bag, giving users greater freedom outside. Blloom goes beyond functional improvement by addressing both the physical and emotional burdens of infertility treatment, helping patients better sustain their daily lives while managing ongoing care.

Future plans

In the next phase, we will conduct user testing in real self-injection scenarios to evaluate grip comfort, injection site access, and intuitive use. The design will be refined through iterative prototyping. Our cold-storage system has shown stability at 30°C, and we aim to enhance it for more extreme conditions. Tactile feedback will be also added to confirm successful injections. We plan to collaborate with pharmaceutical firms to ensure drug compatibility and meet KFDA requirements. We’re currently working with a medical device expert to assess feasibility and are undergoing IRB review for trials with infertility patients.

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