The Zera Cooling Crescent, invented by Aphra Hallam, is a wearable device that reduces the hot flushes that women might suffer during menopause. The device comprises reusable aluminium and silicone and is meant to fit comfortably behind the neck. The gadget employs thermoelectric technology to provide a cold feeling that alleviates the hot flushes that might occur during menopause.
The technique uses a Peltier module, a thermal control device that provides a voltage between two electrodes and is attached to an aluminium strip. The module cools the metal strip and targets the skin's blood vessels, allowing the user to cool down during a hot flush.
The gadget is managed by an app called Zera, which users may use throughout the day. This contains a monitoring function for ladies to keep track of their menopausal symptoms. The crescent form was selected because it considers the shapes and motions of the human body, enabling the Zera Cooling Crescent to lie comfortably on the back of the neck.
The positioning is also intended to let it be disguised beneath a shirt collar or under hair "to give women the confidence to wear it every day." The gadget is charged using a portable charging case that may be hidden in a backpack and is ready to use when symptoms develop.
"Placing something cool on the back of your neck is one of the most effective ways to quickly cool down the body; application of the device here allows it to deliver the cooling successfully and efficiently. Through my research, I also discovered how menopause symptoms affect women of different races disproportionately, something which is not always highlighted in research and symptom solutions. As a Black woman, I also felt it was important to be able to highlight this, whilst still designing something that was accessible to all women," said Aphra Hallam.
The study also attempts to emphasise how, despite the wealth of knowledge on menopause, it is seldom exploited to provide remedies for symptoms. Hallam claims her gadget may be used daily to "enable women in menopause to go about their daily lives comfortably and confidently."
The Zera app also provides a community area with blog postings, supportive chat rooms, and informational articles authored by different health professionals, allowing women to connect with others who are going through menopause.
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