Biomedical engineering students compete in medical device challenge
Nine teams showcased medical device protoypes at a presentation competition
Students from the University of Cincinnati Medical Device Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program (MDIEP) competed in “Do it or mDIEp Day,” an academic challenge comparable to an episode of “Shark Tank” crossed with a medical device demonstration. Hosted by the department of biomedical engineering on March 9, the annual medical device design competition is the culmination of the biomedical engineering (BME) program for MDIEP track seniors.
MDIEP students work side-by side with University of Cincinnati clinicians and expert technical advisors to develop innovative solutions to problems in the medical device industry. Students lead the design process, from theory and experimentation to the production of a fully functional prototype.
First place was awarded to “Adenosyringe”, a dual-chamber syringe that administers adenosine and a saline flush to a patient’s heart in one motion. Adenosine, used to treat supraventricular tachycardia, requires a two-stage injection. The saline must be injected within an activation window of 10 seconds. Inspired by the time sensitivity of adenosine and the unwieldy delivery methods used today, the team presented a design that would be pre-filled and fully assembled, distinguishing it from current devices in hospitals across the country. Their design could greatly reduce the potential for human error and decrease medical waste. Noha Aldharman, Evan Taylor, and Hannah Tilley created this design with their industry advisor, Michael Hopkins, co-founder of True Concepts Medical Technologies.
The second place design was ViPer, a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VP shunt) tunneler presented by Hunter Palich, Mark Thobe, and Alex Schutt. The ViPer offers surgeons better maneuverability and accuracy in the complicated VP shunt procedure, which is a common treatment for hydrocephalus. This team was supported by Dr. Timothy Pritts as clinical advisor.
In third place was NGenuity naso-gastric tube, a device that passes from the nasal cavity, through the esophagus and into the stomach to deliver food and medication, and to extract the contents of the stomach before trauma procedures. The team members, Dustin Buchanon, Kellen Crites, and Signey Lorenza’s design struck a balance between reducing clogs and maximizing air flow. They were supported clinically by Dr. Joe Giglia, a UC Medical Center surgeon.
Teams gave elevator pitch-style presentations to faux “investors” in the audience—members of the UC and local industry communities who are asked to vote for the idea they feel contributes most to advancement of medicine. Teams outlined their design parameters, goals, challenges they addressed along the way, various prototypes, and next steps for the project. Mary Beth Privitera, PhD, BME professor and event coordinator, feels this event establishes a cycle of mentorship within the BME program, so talented graduates could return to UC as industry partners.
The event recognized accomplishments, but did not focus solely on success. Privitera, emphasized the importance of failure in the design process:
“In innovation, failure is fantastic and should be celebrated. When you’re not afraid to fail, you’re not afraid to take a risk. As long as you know why you failed, success is around the corner. Not everything you try in innovative design for medical device development will be a success.”
BME facilitates cross-disciplinary collaboration among the College of Engineering and Applied Science; College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning; Carl H. Lindner College of Business; and College of Medicine. For more information, contact the Medical Device Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program (MDIEP) or department of biomedical engineering.
Image featured at top: Team Adenosyringe celebrates their achievement with their advisor. Photo/Diana Riggs/UC CEAS.
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