Travelling with a wheelchair can be difficult. The idea is to develop a foldable wheelchair wheel. Folding the wheel will reduce the amount of storage space required from 0.7 cubic feet to 0.4 cubic feet, allowing the wheels to be stored in overhead bins, car trunks and under airplane seats. The wheel will fit any standard wheelchair and will support up to 300 pounds, and the fail-safe mechanism will prevent the wheels from folding accidentally.

The Cooling Cure system will be an inexpensive option for cooling newborns and preventing possible brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) causes death in up to 50 percent of newborns and neurological damage in 25 percent of survivors. The effects of HIE can be mitigated by lowering the newborn's body temperature and maintaining it at a specific range. The Cooling Cure device will be made of a clay pot with a plastic-lined basket and...

A new implant will allow blood to be analyzed from within the body which will lead to better treatments for the chronically ill. The device will contain five sensors able to detect up to five proteins and organic acids simultaneously. An imbedded radio module will wirelessly transmit the blood testing results to the doctor over the cellular network, allowing continuous monitoring based on the individual. This more personalized feedback will be particularly useful to oncologists as...

A patch will stimulate the nerves to provide portable pain relief. It will be based on Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), which will use low voltage electrical stimulation to ease some types of pain. Although a small machine is usually required for the TENS procedure, the patch will be designed to adhered to the area of pain and worn on the body. It will also possible to include Bluetooth connectivity and an app that will provide away for the patient to track and manage...

The device will encourage better posture by reminding the user to sit up straight. It will be worn around the waist and feature an imbedded 'posture sensor' able to monitor the user's lower back spinal posture. When the device senses a slouch, it will vibrate as a reminder to the user to sit up straight. The device will also be paired wirelessly with an iOS device to track posture improvements over time.

The idea is to develop a sensor-laden jacket to monitor the vitals of workers in extremely cold conditions. Working in Arctic or Antarctic can take its toll on humans, who can become affected by the cold before they are fully aware. The jacket will be designed as an added safety precaution, with integrated sensors that will monitor outside temperature, body temperature and activity. The data will be relayed in real-time to supervisors, who will then use the information to determine...

The digital nurse assistant will be developed to help nurses more easily keep track of specific patient information. The primary feature of the digital nurse assistant system will a digital tag worn by the nurse. The tag will recognize the nurse as he or she enters each room, automatically displaying patient information on an in-room display. The system will also display any information that needs particular attention, such as blood pressure monitoring. In addition to...

I suggest a new, minimally invasive method for treating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Currently, the method for treating AIS involves a long and expensive surgical procedure. In contrast, the new system will consist of a small ratchet mechanism implant attached to the center of the main spine curvature. The implant will use only two screws and the implant procedure will create a much smaller scar than current methods. After the hour-long surgery, the patient then will undergo...

The portable dialysis machine will be designed to overcome some of the obstacles of home hemodialysis by allowing patients to go through a dialysis cycle while sleeping. Hemodialysis usually requires weekly, time consuming sessions attached to an immobile device. In contrast, the new machine will be portable enough to use throughout the home or even while traveling. It will be designed to be easy to use, with a drop-in cartridge, simple plumbing and electrical connections, and 27/7...

The handheld scanner will be used to detect intracranial bleeding on the spot, quickly identifying people who may need follow up treatment or diagnosis. The wand-like device will take advantage of near-infrared technology to determine any abnormalities in the brain's light absorption. Using an eye-safe NIR diode laser and an optical detector, the scanner will measure the light absorption of both halves of the brain. A lack of symmetry will indicate a likely hematoma caused by the...