Otter portable newborn warmer runs on backup power in unreliable grids
US nonprofit Design that Matters and Vietnam's MTTS built Otter, a portable newborn warmer for hospitals with unreliable electricity. It replaces the removable mattress with an integrated heat-conducting polycarbonate bassinet, and backup power switches on automatically when AC fails. By January 2026 it had been used for more than 800 newborns in Vietnam, Zambia and the Philippines.
- Integrated polycarbonate bassinet replaces the removable mattress and eases disinfection
- Backup battery activates automatically when mains power drops
- Weighs about 11 pounds with batteries
- 800+ newborns treated in Vietnam, Zambia and the Philippines by January 2026
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