Diabetics may soon be able to check their blood sugar through their sweat, eliminating the need for needles and blood. Why not develop a device which can detect the variances in sweat patterns that occur when the body's glucose reaches critically low levels? The sweat meter will consist of at least three electrodes to be attached to the skin, which will provide a more accurate reading of the slight electrical current that will be sent through the surface of the skin and into the...

The idea is to create a dental emergency kit for soldiers in the field, providing a quick fix until the soldier can get to professional help. The kit will be the size of a CD and weigh about an ounce and a half. It will include the supplies needed to repair a broken tooth, lost filling, or ease irritation caused by orthodontic wire. The instructions will be easy to follow, and will include step by step illustrations. I believe that immediate steps can help save an injured...

The idea is to develop a new eye test device for children that will use cartoons and games to simplify eye exams. The system will able to screen the child's eyes while they watch a short cartoon or play a video game. The device will use infrared light to gather data, and the assessment will be available within one minute. The test will also work without the need for eye dilation or verbal responses from the child.

A new cannula system will dramatically increase patient comfort, automatically administering local anesthesia before the larger needle is inserted. The new cannula will look similar to conventional needles, but will include a tiny needle on the front that will deliver about 0.2 ml of local anesthesia. The design will decrease the steps involved in administering anesthesia while also reducing mistakes and infiltrated veins.

An ultrasound pill could help to deliver drugs as effectively as an injection, reducing the need for needles and syringes. Ultrasound has long been used to speed the transfer of drugs and increase absorption, and is commonly used for delivering protein-based drugs such as insulin, cancer medications, and vaccinations. The idea is to apply the same technique to a pill. The pill would be coated with the desired drug and swallowed, enabling the device to send ultrasonic waves through...

The ultra-fine nano pen needle takes advantage of a 5-bevel design to help ease the pain of daily injections. The 4mm needle uses special design, which features a 5-bevel needle tip that is able to penetrate the skin more easily due to its flatter, thinner surface. In comparison with 3-bevel pen needles, this needle is significantly easier to insert and less painful, with the force needed to penetrate the skin reduced by 23 percent.

The idea is to develop a technique that could one day allow the early diagnosis of diseases through saliva. Saliva contains complex sets of molecules that can be used to create an impression of the person's general health, and by identifying biomarkers in the saliva scientists can develop tests that will produce accurate results. It is believed that in time the non-invasive saliva sampling method of diagnosing disease could be just as useful as blood tests. And since 20...

Usually this is done by a doctor... But, if you have a small blister that you just can't stand anymore, you can get rid of it by following these simple steps: 1. Find a pin and drop it in a small bit of alcohol to sterilize it. 2. Puncture the blister in two separate places, and press lightly on the blister to push the fluid out. 3. Wash the blister with soap and water, applying antibiotic cream, and covering it with gauze. Let the blister heal. 4. Don't tamper...

The idea is to develop a way to deliver drugs to the brain by opening the blood-brain barrier with ultrasound waves. Ultrasound has been investigated as a way to break to barrier for a while, but the equipment is expensive and large, the ultrasound can only be focused on a small area, and an injection is required. The new method will use a headset to be worn by the patient, exposing the whole brain to ultrasound waves for as long as an hour. The new device could be worn by...

A new injectable biomaterial can be molded by light, which could allow doctors rebuild the soft structures of the face and help people who have been disfigured by disease or injury. The half synthetic and half biological material can be injected as a liquid, formed into shape, and then locked into shape by exposure to light. Injecting the material will eliminate the need for surgery, which will lower costs and patient discomfort. When the material is exposed to specific wavelengths...