At CRO, we are hungry for current data, over the horizon discussions, and future integration of technologies which affect the prehospital medical space. We are working on behalf of medics with the requirement to be light and fast, working in confined spaces, and delivering a high standard of care. CRO load carriage is optimized to deliver Damage Control Resuscitation at the POI using Whole Blood to bridge the gap in care to Damage Control Surgery. This is something entire trauma teams routinely fail doing, and why every detail needs to be addressed. Beyond wanting to improve our products, we want to fail in order to get better. This requires having an extremely open dialogue with users to identify areas of improvement.

Part of our mission is to collaborate and support other companies doing great work on behalf of our community. During the past year, we started working with Delta Development Team to learn about their awesome work developing the future of Blood Cold Chain transportation for austere and remote environments. The Autonomous Portable Refrigeration Unit (APRU) by Delta Dev Team is intended to carry 6 units of blood for POI medicine. We had to ask, “what are you doing about the load carriage?”

Here are a few Q&A’s from our most recent industry collab, the APRU protective carrying case. This project turned out to be one of our favorites for multiple reasons, and was recently called “master class” by high end users. We couldn’t be more excited about collaborating with such a high quality company working to save lives. Check it out.

Q: Where did the need arise to develop a load carriage system for the APRU?
A: The APRU outer shell consists of Polycarbonate, a plastic material, which is used for bulletproof glass. However, the shell of the APRU is thin and will not always survive drops of 3 ft or higher when it lands on its corners. Ultimately, we knew the APRU would continue to work even after it was dropped and cracked, but our end users requested additional drop protection like a carrier or bag.
Our other concern was that the APRU handles might break if placed in an odd position. We needed to develop a design that would avoid placing unnecessary stress on the handles during transport. We want the end-users to use the backpack straps first, then the handles, as part of the PACE plan.

Q: What were the most desirable features, based on the feedback you were getting from your users?
A: They needed a carrier that would have easy-to-use transport straps and sufficient padding. On the final design, their favorite features are the padding, MOLLE, and backpack straps.

Q: Why did you choose to partner with CRO on this project? Did CRO meet or exceed your expectations?
A: When CRO approached us, we felt that they were a trusted brand in the space with excellent products and attention to detail, something we definitely needed out of a partner due to the complexities of the proposed design. As the project moved forward, CRO exceeded our expectations. The timeline from start to finish, and final product were exceptional to say the least. We really like the custom build, material, and form fit of the carrier. In addition, they add extra value with their marketing efforts across social media.

Q: What value has this design brought to your customers?
A: Our customers appreciate the versatility in carrying options as a backpack or cross-over-shoulder carry and the padded protection from drops. The MOLLE pockets allow them to customize how they will carry the accessories.

Q: How does a customer purchase the product?
A: You can order the APRU carrier on ECAT or GSA.

If you have any questions about the product please contact Delta Development Team at info@deltadevteam.com.