California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, $20,000

Mantis Composites provides strong, light, and customizable parts to their high performance customers to create a new age of faster and more efficient machines.

University of Virginia, $5,000

This team is developing a deployable head protection device to reduce trauma due to falls from unexpected muscle contraction and loss of consciousness during seizures in epileptic patients.

Pennsylvania State University – University Park, $5,000

The 3D printing industry has seen incredible growth in the past few years as countless businesses and individuals have begun using consumer 3D printers to quickly and easily bring their ideas to life. However, some users have been pushing the capabilities of these machines by creating detailed models with multiple parts, and even multiple copies of entire designs, which is time-consuming and inefficient.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, $5,000

This E-Team is addressing two problems at the same time: e-waste, of which smartphones are becoming a rapidly increasing percentage, and the lack of people to fill job positions in the tech sector. The team’s product, the Neo, is a computer powered by a discarded mobile phone and comes pre-loaded with an operating system designed to introduce computer programming to novices. The Neo is envisioned as a sustainable and socially responsible way of introducing school-aged children to programming.

Western Michigan University

2015 BMEStart First place winners, winning $10,000

E-Team Stage 1 and 2 grant winners, $25,000

This E-Team is developing a simple, energy efficient, safe, reliable and inexpensive way to provide biphasic positive airway pressure or Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) for infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome in hospitals with limited resources. The technology reliably delivers clinically relevant pressure waveforms at an affordable price point.

Clemson University, $5,000

Upper-arm tremors can be particularly disabling, making simple tasks such as writing and eating difficult. Presently, upper-arm tremor patients are limited to passive restrictive braces, neurosurgery, or dependence on medications as treatment options. This team is developing a tremor-reducing wrist brace that uses small frictional pistons to reduce unintentional movement and give patients the ability to perform fine motor tasks. The brace is a lightweight, non-powered, flexible, low-cost, medication-free solution. Tests have demonstrated effective tremor amplitude reductions of over 70%.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, $25,000

Concussions are a top concern for football players across America. The medical community has demonstrated that both concussive and sub-concussive head impacts increase a player’s risk for long-term health and mental health issues, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. This team is developing a new foam composite capable of reducing both the initial magnitude of impact forces by 30% and the resulting shockwave when compared to traditional foam lining, offering better protection against concussions.

Northern Illinois University, $5,000

This project will utilize a newly-isolated species of microalgae to improve municipal wastewater treatment. The microalgae will remove polluting levels of nitrate and phosphate from sewage presently discharged into waterways, and the algae can then be harvested and used to produce biodiesel.

Cornell University, $5,000

Traditionally, most industries disinfect surfaces by spraying or wiping disinfectants every time it is required. NTi Technology is focusing on changing the disinfection pattern by providing continual protection to the surface. NTi uses modified nanoparticles to deliver a product that not only disinfects when sprayed onto a surface, but also remains on the surface to protect it from bacteria and viruses without user intervention.

Northwestern University, $5,000

Cataract surgery involves the removal of the patient’s cloudy intraocular lens and the implantation of an artificial lens. Often, however, patients still need to wear glasses after surgery due to anatomical differences between their eyes and the artificial lens. This team is developing a higher-performing intraocular lens that is individually tailored to each patient and custom 3D-printed. An ophthalmologist will generate an accurate 3D map of the cornea and anterior segment of the eye, which will then be used as a blueprint for a lens that can be exported to a 3D printer and prototyped.

University of California, Berkeley, $5,000

Otto designs and develops assistive devices that address the progressive rehabilitation needs of patients suffering from acute neurodegenerative conditions.

Rice University, $5,000

Current commercial oxygen analyzers are expensive for low resource settings. The OxyCal team has invented a cheaper alternative that will prevent hypoxia and death that is typically caused by faulty concentrators. The new device features a built in system that detects falling oxygen concentration during surgery and neonatal care.

University of Central Oklahoma, $5,000

ParaNano LLC is developing an electrospinning device for the nanofiber research industry and small volume, high value product manufacturers. The patent-pending device provides unique capabilities for controlling and aligning branched nanofibers as they are produced in a continuous fashion.

Johns Hopkins University, $5,000

Refractory ascites, fluid buildup in the peritoneal cavity that does not go away after paracentesis, affects 100,000 people in the US. Existing methods to relieve refractory ascites are invasive as well as expensive. Perileve is an implantable pump that will push ascites fluid into the stomach using only the body’s natural pressure fluctuations. The pump’s process of alleviation will help patients live longer, more comfortable lives.

University of Virginia, $5,000

Phoenix-Aid is a safe, cost-effective and comprehensive wound-care dressing designed to prevent infections and accelerate the healing of chronic wounds.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $5,000

Plantea is developing sensors that monitor plant growth and plant health in real-time, allowing farmers to get immediate feedback from plants and grow more produce with less resources. The vision is to build self-sustaining plant growth systems (shipping container farms) that automatically set the growth conditions for maximum food production, with minimum human involvement.

Johns Hopkins University, $5,000

This team has developed a novel device to safely treat patients with calcified plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. The device could increase patient safety, improve ease of use for interventionalists, and reduce the cost burden on the healthcare system.

Case Western Reserve University, $5,000

Catheter-related bloodstream infections affect 250,000 patients annually. CRBI’s increase healthcare costs with extended hospital stays and higher patient care costs. The current method of port cleaning is time consuming and most often protocol compliance is low. The sterile strip dispenser attaches to the injection port and is filled with sterilant bubbles. The strip is pulled across the port and bursts during scrubbing, saturating material on the strip for disinfection.

Johns Hopkins University, $5,000

PranaPulse has created a low-cost, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) device to bring accurate diagnoses of ischemic heart disease to underserved rural populations. The device connects via USB and through an Android application can collect and transfer ECG data to a cardiologist for diagnosis. The cardiologist can then prescribe an individualized treatment for each patient electronically.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, $5,000

Commercially available prosthetic devices controlled by neural signals are extremely expensive, typically costing $30,000-$40,000. Psyonic is developing advanced, low-cost, neurally controlled prosthetic hands that can be produced for less than $1,000.