Dutch University Crowdfunds One-Euro Device to End Pain for 25 Million Women
Delft, Friday, 12 December 2025.
TU Delft researchers developed a revolutionary medical device costing just one euro that could transform pain relief for women during gynecological procedures. Currently, 25 million women annually undergo these procedures without adequate pain relief, particularly in low-income countries where existing needles cost up to €50 each. The Chloe Syringe Extension Device can be reused 25 times and has already proven successful in clinical trials with 135 women in Kenya.
Healthtech Innovation Addresses Global Healthcare Inequality
This development falls squarely within the healthtech category, representing a medical device innovation designed to address healthcare accessibility challenges globally [1]. The project exemplifies how engineering solutions can tackle systemic healthcare inequalities, particularly affecting women in resource-limited settings where adequate pain management remains a luxury rather than a standard of care [1]. The device’s potential to transform gynecological care delivery demonstrates the intersection of medical technology and social impact, addressing both clinical needs and economic barriers simultaneously [1].
The Mind Behind the Innovation
Industrial designer Karlheinz Samenjo developed the Chloe Syringe Extension Device (SED) as part of his work at TU Delft, located in the Netherlands [1]. Samenjo’s vision extends beyond the technical achievement, as he stated his goal for ‘Chloe Innovations to become available worldwide — in hospitals and eventually even in pharmacies, including here in the Netherlands’ [1]. His ambitious target reflects a comprehensive approach to global healthcare accessibility, with the designer emphasizing that ‘We will only have succeeded when every woman has access to safe, affordable pain relief’ [1].
Technical Specifications and Cost Efficiency
The Chloe SED operates as a one-euro extension device that simplifies local anaesthesia administration to the uterus, creating dramatic cost savings compared to existing solutions [1]. While current needles used in the Netherlands for similar pain relief procedures can cost up to €50 each, the SED’s reusable design allows one device to provide anesthesia to 25 women [1]. This reusability factor creates a cost efficiency ratio of 50 = 50 times more affordable than traditional single-use alternatives, making the technology economically viable for low-income healthcare systems [1]. The device’s engineering focuses on simplicity and durability, designed specifically for resource-limited environments where complex medical equipment may be impractical [1].
Clinical Validation and Global Implementation Timeline
The SED has undergone rigorous clinical testing in Kenya, where 135 women received treatment using the device across two clinical studies involving 31 clinicians [1]. These trials demonstrated that the technology provides safer, simpler, and more accessible anesthesia for gynecological procedures compared to existing methods [1]. TU Delft launched its crowdfunding campaign on December 11, 2025, aiming to raise €100,000 to advance the project through critical regulatory phases [1]. The funding will support medical certification processes, including CE and FDA approval requirements, building production systems for large-scale manufacturing, and distributing the SED to hospitals and clinics in low- and middle-income countries as well as trial sites in the Netherlands [1]. The device requires registration in low-income countries and international regulatory approval before its planned worldwide rollout [1].