Johns Hopkins University, $20,000

Lumbar punctures to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are performed over 400,000 times a year by neurologists and emergency medicine physicians. But there are frequent complications, procedure failures and diagnostic delays from hitting peripheral structures or missing the intended target. Accuo is a novel smart-sensing tool that will aid physicians in collecting CSF on the first attempt, without hitting peripheral structures.

Texas A & M University, $25,000

Acoustic Shield is a reliable, cost-effective and universal gunshot detection sensor designed to decrease the notification time of first responders by eliminating bottlenecks. The technology is based on acoustic signal processing, as gunshots have very unique acoustic signatures.

North Dakota State University, $25,000

Advanced Bone Technology is developing SimBone, a product that replicates a human bone. The goal is to reduce the need for cadavers in medical research, medical device design, surgical training, public safety testing and more. SimBone has no biological components and can be manufactured on-demand at a fraction of the cost of alternatives.

University of Texas at Arlington, $25,000

This team is developing a new type of detonation engine that produces power more efficiently than conventional combustion engines.

http://www.afthon.com

University of Virginia-Main Campus, $20,000

Residual pesticides on the surface of fruit cause great aggravation to harvesters. Pre-harvest intervals, the number of days between pesticide applications, lead to inefficiency and harvest losses. AgroSpheres created a device that uses bioparticles to degrade pesticides on crops, enabling them to be safe to handle and consume.

Stanford University, $25,000

This team is developing a cold plasma device that selectively kills infection-causing microorganisms without damage to other cells or tissues. The major benefit of this technology over current methods of disinfection is its potential effectiveness against the most robust infectious organisms, including drug-resistant bacterial strains, fungi and biofilms.

University of California, Davis, $25,000

This team is aiming to reduce the worldwide quantity of plastic waste by incorporating it into our process feed stream. Specifically, the team is developing a way to use biological methods to break down Polyethylene Terephthalate plastic into Purified Terephthalic acid, a high-value commodity chemical, and ethylene glycol, which can be used as a bacterial food source. The goal is to create a cycle that enables the conversion of waste plastic into new, high quality plastic without dependence on fossil fuels.

Pennsylvania State University, $20,000

There are 1.9 million new amputees every year in developing countries and it’s estimated that around 80% of the world’s lower limb amputees do not have access to modern prostheses. Amparo, which means support in Portugese, is working to create simple prosthetics. The team’s technology utilizes a thermoplastic material that enables lower limb sockets to be created in a fraction of the time it takes to create traditional sockets.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, $25,000

AMProtection will license a broadly-active antimicrobial coating to urinary catheter manufacturers that will combat antibiotic resistance and reduce gold standard antibiotic use to fight infection. Per 10,000 coated catheters sold, AMProtection reduces 80% of CAUTIs, 200 patient hospital days, and tens of millions of dollars in never event expenses.

University of Pennsylvania, $20,000

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that threatens the safety of wildlife and the food of over 4 billion people. BioCellection upcycles unrecyclable plastic pollution into biosurfactants using engineered microbes.

http://www.biocellection.com

University of Oregon, $25,000

This team is developing Tessellation, a biodegradable alternative to fiberglass insulation.

http://www.blkldg.com

Northwestern University, $20,000

Developing SafeSnips, a device that will provide surgeons with real-time information about the surgical field as they operate, allowing them to navigate vasculature and alerting them to the presence of a sensitive artery or vein before a dangerous cut is made.

http://briteseed.com

Art Center College of Design, $25,000

Calientamigos is a three-part system that gives poor families access to hot water for bathing, cooking and cleaning.

http://www.idsa.org/safe-agua-colombia-calientamigos

Stanford University, $20,000

Caydian is developing a suite of products to improve the quality of life of children and families affected by pediatric sleep disorders such as night terrors. The team has developed new research-based interventions to quickly resolve problems using monitoring and programmed sleep disturbance.

http://www.caydian.com/

North Carolina State University, $25,000

Almost half of patients experience chronic post-surgical pain after a thoracotomy–a surgical procedure in which a surgeon spreads a patient’s ribs to gain access to target organs. This team is developing a rib retractor that conforms to the shape of each patient’s body in order to reduce applied force along the ribs reducing damage and improving outcomes.

George Mason University, $23,000

This team is developing E-Mow, a self-fueling, self-guided drone harvester that produces biomass pellets at the same time that it harvests a crop.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, $25,000

This team is developing a new ion-conducting membrane for lithium-air batteries that provides a marked safety improvement and improved performance.

University of Akron, $25,000

Unexpected system failures in hybrid or electric cars can lead to costly breakdown or even loss of life. This team is developing software for an on-board diagnosis system for hybrid and electric vehicles that can provide early fault indications, improving reliability and safety.

Northwestern University, $19,925

A solution for ostomates (people who must collect bodily waste in external pouches) that reduces discomfort and embarrassment from pouch ballooning and gas odor through more effective and flexible adsorption of gasses and odors.

Entrenous video

Yale University, $25,000

This team has developed a portable device that can detect small amounts of pathogens and indicator bacteria in large volumes of liquid faster and cheaper than current methods.