These teens are thinking outside the box to create solutions to medical
problems that change the world and help to save lives. These inventive
young entrepreneurs have solved complex medical issues with devices they
have created themselves. We take a look at some of the most exciting young
inventors in the medical field.
Catherine Wong
Need a medical checkup but can’t get to the doctor? Whether you live
in a remote area or just want to keep tabs on your heart, Catherine’s
invention attaches to your cell phone and allows you to measure your heartbeat.
Catherine’s device allows you to take a test called an electrocardiogram
which can alert users to irregular heartbeats which would give them time
to seek medical help.
Tony Hansberry
Tony is a student at the Carnell Cookman School of Medical Arts which is
the first American school to have an integrated medical curriculum. Tony
developed a new suture method which radically reduces the time it takes
to perform a hysterectomy. This makes the procedure safer for patients
and it reduces the recovery time and cost of the operation.
See the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q1nhkvG4DK0
Jack Andraka
Jack may be just a freshman, but his future is already looking bright.
He recently won the $75,000 grand prize at this past spring’s Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair becoming the youngest participant
to do so. Every year, 40,000 people die of pancreatic cancer as it is
one of the most lethal cancers, with a five-year survival rate of 6 percent.
That may be about to change with Jack’s new invention which comprises
a small dipstick probe that utilizes 1/6th of a drop of blood to accurately see if the patient has cancer. The test
is easy to administer and only takes five minutes to complete.
Suman Mulumudi
15-year-old Suman attends Lakeside School and has built two medical devices
that would reduce healthcare costs and improve accuracy. Suman has built
the Steth IO which is a device you can add onto a smartphone which turns
it into a stethoscope which is far more accurate than traditional stethoscopes.
His second invention aids in the administration of angioplasties; a procedure
that clears blocked arteries. Here lesion in arterial tissue have to be
repaired using a stent. The hardest part of the procedure is placing the
stents in the correct places. Suman’s device helps to measure the
length of the lesions so that accurately sized stents can be used thus
reducing the need for repeat hospital visits.
Suman’s invention uses a microprocessor from an optical computer
mouse and combines it with 3D modelling and printing to create the LesionSizer
which measures the length of the arterial lesions for more accurate results.
