Saving Preterm Babies, Worldwide
Our Solution
How we helped a startup out of Stanford create a device that saved millions of babies
The Result
A product that won Doctor’s approvals for clinical trials paving the way for widespread adoption and eventual recognition from President Obama
Â
The Story
Embrace was a startup born out of Stanford’s D.School program. The founders set out to address global-scale challenges and focused on one of the most urgent: preterm infant mortality in the developing world.
Â
In India alone, an estimated 3.3 million preterm babies are born each year. About 24.9 out of every 1000 live births end in death within the first month, many from hypothermia. Babies often died of cold at room temperature because their bodies lacked the muscle mass to stay warm. The impact was far-reaching. Families tried repeatedly for a surviving child, which contributed to population growth. Mothers carried the greatest burden, with reduced productivity and economic setbacks that lasted for years.
THE CHALLENGE
Saving Lives in Resource-Limited Settings
The need was clear. A device was required to keep preterm babies warm until they could be taken to a hospital incubator. The device had to be simple enough to use by semi-skilled paramedics, durable enough to handle bumpy ambulance rides on village roads, and credible enough to be certified by doctors. It was not just about technical feasibility. It was about trust, usability, and survival.
THE PROCESS
Engineering Safe, Portable Warmth
The team began with the kangaroo snuggle concept: create warmth for the baby until more advanced medical care was available. The technical breakthrough came in the form of a phase change material (PCM). The PCM liquefied at a slightly higher temperature and then cooled gradually, keeping the baby’s environment at 37°C. An insulating layer stabilized the temperature, and the PCM pack could be reheated for repeated use.
Several design innovations reinforced this approach:
Single Orientation Heating:
The PCM had to be placed correctly every time. The tray and PCM were shaped like a giant SIM card, ensuring only one orientation and eliminating the risk of overheating.
Precision Heating:
Conventional heating solutions carried the risk of dangerous spikes. Working with a ceramic heating element manufacturer, the team developed a low-latency heating plate that switched off at exactly the set temperature. A custom sensor tracked PCM temperature with high accuracy.
Visual Indicators:
Users could see when the PCM was ready through built-in indicators and a small viewing window, removing the need to open the warmer during operation.
Doctor-Approved Aesthetics:
The device resembled a professional piece of equipment. Clean surfaces, portability, and easy-to-clean finishes drew comparisons to the Apple MacBook (Snow White edition). Doctors and caregivers alike could trust it as both safe and hygienic.
THE RESULT
A Life-Saving Tool Worldwide
With access to supplier networks in India and the Far East, Embrace was able to prototype, tool, and manufacture the product at an affordable cost. The infant warmer became a critical tool in regions where incubators were either too expensive or unavailable.
Â
The impact spread quickly beyond India. Embrace’s mission of saving preterm babies was realized in countries facing similar challenges. International recognition followed. The product was celebrated not only by healthcare communities but also at the highest levels of government. President Barack Obama highlighted the story of Embrace and founder Jane Chen at the White House, marking it as an example of design-led social innovation with global relevance.
Why It Matters
The Embrace Infant Warmer demonstrates how design and engineering can address urgent healthcare challenges in places where resources are scarce. By making the device intuitive, rugged, and affordable, the team created a solution that fit the realities of field use without compromising on safety. The result was more than a medical device. It was a practical answer to one of the leading causes of neonatal death and a tool that gave families hope where there had been little before