L2M-L6: Smart Wearable Thermotherapy Device for Occupational Menstrual and Musculoskeletal Health Management

Our research-and-development-oriented product, BB+, is a compact, wearable heating device designed to help working women manage menstrual cramp and musculoskeletal pain discreetly during their workday. Roughly the size of a credit card, BB+ clips under clothing and delivers adjustable heat therapy within the 35–65°C therapeutic range through a carbon-fiber heating pad, with NFC-based temperature control via the phone’s volume buttons — no app required, no reaching for tactile buttons under clothing layers. Despite dysmenorrhea menstrual pain affecting up to 90% of women, 97% of workplaces offer no menstrual health accommodations, resulting in an average of 2.4 lost workdays per month and $1,300 in annual productivity loss per person. Current options, painkillers with long-term side effects, bulky heating pads that need stationary body with wall outlets, or transport of heavy power banks, fail to meet the needs of women in workplace settings. BB+ addresses this gap with a portable, drug-free, reusable solution featuring built-in safety controls to prevent toasted skin syndrome. The device is currently at TRL 3–4, with its technical design, electronics architecture, and user needs validated through a 50-person customer discovery survey. This project, conducted through the Lab2Market Launch program, focuses on transforming BB+ from a validated concept into a launch-ready venture over a 4-month period. We will build a complete business model with pricing strategy, finalize and lab-test a functional prototype, map the regulatory pathway for Health Canada medical device certification, develop an intellectual property protection plan, and create a go-to-market strategy targeting both direct consumer sales and corporate wellness programs. The expected outcome is an investor-ready venture package that positions BB+ for seed funding and commercial launch in the Canadian women’s health market, a segment within the broader $2.3 billion global pain management devices industry.

Faculty Supervisor:

Denise Stilling

Student:

Partner:

North Forge

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education; Management of companies and enterprises; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Regina

Program: