During kidney transplantation, it is critical to maintain the donor graft at 0-4 °C to limit warm ischemia time (WIT) and preserve function. WIT refers to the period when the kidney is warmed above 15 °C and is not receiving blood flow, leading to damage. Small increases in WIT are associated with higher rates of complications, including delayed graft function (DGF), longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. In the United States, more than 100,000 patients are currently on the kidney transplant waitlist, and tragically, an average of 13 people lose their lives each day awaiting a kidney. Despite this high demand, only about 25,000 kidney transplants are performed annually, highlighting the importance of preserving each graft.

While kidneys are kept cold prior to implantation, there is no reliable method to maintain hypothermia (optimal cooling temperature) once the organ is removed from ice and placed into the body during surgery. During this period, WIT begins as the kidney gradually rewarms while surgeons perform vascular anastomosis. This phase is especially critical in robotic-assisted procedures, where difficulty maneuvering the kidney and the surgeon’s learning curves increase procedure length. Currently, surgeons rely on makeshift methods such as ice-soaked gauze and glove wraps. However, these methods lead to inconsistent temperature control and difficulty maneuvering.

To address this gap, we developed a single-use kidney-cooling sleeve composed of an instant cooling mechanism driven by an endothermic reaction. This solution will provide consistent intraoperative cooling and handles for improved maneuvering of the graft during implantation. This device aims to reduce WIT, decrease DGF rates, improve transplant outcomes, and lower long-term healthcare costs.