2017 debut first place winner $20,000
Revolutionizing Alzheimer’s Diagnosis through Portable EEG and Artificial Intelligence
University of Maryland, College Park
David Boegner
Megan Forte
Megha Guggari
Christopher Look
Anoop Patel
Dhruv Patel
Briana Sheard
Faculty Advisor: Steven Jay
This team developed a revolutionary method of early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Using portable EEG and artificial intelligence, their innovative device moves away from current costly neuroimaging diagnostic techniques such as MRI screenings, as well as qualitative methods of diagnosis such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to a more robust, affordable, and objective measure of analysis. Given the small footprint of both the device and algorithm, the portable EEG is able to collect and extract specific brainwave properties elicited after a distinct tone is exhibited to a patient. This combined device and software allows dementia diagnosis to become more quantitative, systematic, and cheaper.
2017 debut second place winner $15,000
3D Tracking-Assisted Functional Region Mapping Tool for Awake Neurosurgery
Arizona State University
Barrett Anderies
Mohammad Mousa
John Tobey
Faculty Advisor: Vincent Pizziconi
This team developed a device that digitizes the brain mapping process by combining a novel 3D-tracked cortical stimulation probe, real-time 3D tool tracking, and custom software for improved brain mapping functionality. Their novel cortical stimulation probe allows interrogation of brain tissue and the seamless application of digital tags to the surface of the brain containing 3D positional and user-customizable information. The digital tag information is displayed through a familiar neuronavigation interface, and the system provides haptic, auditory, and visual warning cues when certain surgical tools encroach upon tagged areas. This allows the surgeon to operate without looking away from the visual field while maintaining awareness of the location of critical brain regions.
2017 debut third place winner $10,000
Treyetech: Revolutionizing DMEK Cornea Transplants
Johns Hopkins University
Kali Barnes
Stephanie Cai
Akash Chaurasia
Conan Chen
Eric Chiang
Allison Rosen
Anshul Subramanya
Parth Vora
Faculty Advisor: Amir Manbachi
This team’s patent-pending device facilitates the insertion of corneal tissue grafts during the cornea transplant procedure, Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). DMEK is the only type of cornea transplant that can restore a patient’s vision to 20/20, but lacks widespread adoption because it is very difficult for surgeons to perform. The team’s device significantly streamlines the procedure and has already iterated through over fifteen rounds of working prototype iterations.
2017 venture prize $15,000
Application of Hydrogel Nanoparticles for a Latent Tuberculosis Rapid Diagnostic Test
George Mason University
Marissa Howard
Rohit Madhu
Sara Sharif
Sameen Yusuf
Faculty Advisor: Laurence Bray
This team has developed an electrical, paper-based immunoassay using high affinity capture hydrogel nanoparticles (NPs) and amperometric sensors to provide a sensitive, specific, and quantitative method for latent tuberculosis (LTBI) diagnosis. Distinguishing the presence or absence of the NPs provides the basis for an electrical lateral flow immunoassay that can quantitatively detect TB biomarkers within a urine sample. This methodology is less invasive, more affordable, and versatile enough to be configured for other infectious disease and cancer diagnostics.
2017 design excellence prize $5,000
AssistENT: Non-Surgical Enhancement of Nasal Breathing
Johns Hopkins University
Clayton Andrews
Melissa Austin
Eric Cao
Alexander Glavin
Talia Kirschbaum
Theodore Lee
Pooja Nair
Harrison Nguyen
Faculty Advisor: Robert Allen
This team’s device aims to be a non-surgical option for patients in need of enhanced nasal breathing. Taking the place of reconstructive surgery and adhesive strips, AssistENT is a comfortable and discreet nasal dilator that is inserted into obstructed nostrils to open the airways and facilitate breathing. It is designed for comfort through the use of form-fitting materials that conform to the nasal passage and distribute dilation forces evenly, and is the first intranasal dilator that is fully suitable for use during the day.
honorable mentions
CauteryGuard, Georgia Institute of Technology: CauteryGuard is a patent-pending disposable electrocautery device that features an automatically retracting tip. Student Team: Jack Corelli, Hunter Hatcher, Devin Li, and Dev Mandavia. Faculty Advisor: James Rains.
Kaleyedos: A Telemedicine Solution for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening, Johns Hopkins University: This team’s device seamlessly integrates novel imaging hardware, a cloud-based telemedicine workflow, and an image processing suite to overcome the two main barriers to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening: personnel availability and equipment cost. Student Team: Sahuarita Arizona, Richard Chen, Seony Han, Sami Messai, Rebecca Miller, Aditya Murali, Erica Schwarz, Prerna Singh, and Elizabeth Wu. Faculty Advisor: Nicholas Durr.
Monitor Infant Work of Breathing Apparatus (MIWOBA), University of Washington: This device was developed using sensors that measure physical changes associated with increased work of breathing (WOB), or respiratory distress, which is an early symptom of several clinical problems in infants. Student Team: Namratha Potharaj, Nina Reese, and LokYiu To. Faculty Advisor: Alyssa Taylor.
Paper-Based Microfluidic Device to Detect Salmonella, Colorado State University: This team has engineeried a hand-held rotary device containing a series of chemically prepared paper test strips, to clearly diagnosis food-borne pathogens from a desired sample. Student Team: Joseph Johnson, Maya Kayyali, McKennah Repasky, and Sean Visocky. Faculty Advisor: Charles Henry.
PneumaShoe: A Low Cost, Durable Solution to Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), Rice University: Team ClotMeNot has developed the PneumaShoe, an over-the-foot intermittent pneumatic compression device (IPCD) to prevent VTE in low-resource settings. Student Team: Stephanie Brener, Christine Diaz, Elizabeth Godfrey, Tahir Malik, Radhika Mohan, and Nikhil Shamapant. Faculty Advisor: Maria Oden.