Dignitana

Dignitana AB is a medical technology company focused on preventing chemotherapy-induced hair loss. The company's origin traces back to the 1990s when Swedish oncology nurse Yvonne Olofsson witnessed the distressing impact of hair loss on her patients. Collaborating with engineer John Kern, Olofsson developed the DigniCap Scalp Cooling System in the early 2000s, a device designed to offer a reliable and controllable method for scalp cooling in a clinical environment. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Lund, Sweden, with significant operations based in Dallas, Texas.

The core of Dignitana's business is the DigniCap Scalp Cooling System, a patented medical device that helps cancer patients preserve their hair during chemotherapy. The system functions by circulating a coolant through a fitted silicone cap worn by the patient before, during, and after chemotherapy infusion. This cooling process causes vasoconstriction, which restricts blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles, thereby reducing the amount of chemotherapy drugs that can reach and damage the hair cells. The system comprises a computerized control unit for precise temperature management and a cap system, with the latest DigniCap Delta model featuring a single-patient use cooling wrap and an adjustable thermal cap for an optimized fit. The device first received FDA clearance in the U.S. in 2015 for breast cancer patients and its indication was expanded in 2017 to include patients with solid tumors in areas such as the prostate, ovaries, and lungs.

Dignitana operates with a dual business model tailored to different markets. In the United States, the company primarily leases the DigniCap systems to healthcare providers, such as cancer centers and hospitals, and generates revenue through a pay-per-treatment fee structure. This is transitioning towards a "buy and bill" model as reimbursement from payers like Medicare becomes more established. Outside the U.S., Dignitana sells the devices directly to medical facilities and secures recurring income through service and maintenance agreements, as well as the sale of disposables. The company serves cancer patients with solid tumors globally and partners with healthcare providers to make the treatment more accessible. Recently, in May 2025, Dignitana was acquired by and merged with its competitor Paxman to form a unified group, Paxman AB, a move intended to expand their collective market presence and enhance patient access to scalp cooling technology.

Keywords: scalp cooling, chemotherapy hair loss, medical technology, cancer care, DigniCap, solid tumor treatment, alopecia prevention, medical device, patient quality of life, oncology support, vasoconstriction, FDA cleared device, pay-per-treatment model, medical equipment leasing, cancer side effect management, chemotherapy side effects, healthcare technology, patient dignity, clinical oncology, medical cooling system, hair preservation, Paxman, Yvonne Olofsson, John Kern, Dallas medical technology, Lund Sweden startup