KIET's MEDHA 2024 Hackathon Sparks Medical Device Innovation

KIET Group of Institutions (KIET) organised its Medical Devices Hackathon, MEDHA 2024 at the BETIC - KIET campus located in Delhi-NCR. The two-day event was conducted on dates September 23-24, 2024. Many industry experts, medical professionals, and engineers collaborated to find solutions to problems in the medical device building field. Around 150 participants belonging to 12 institutions, including the KIET Group of Institutions, DIT University Dehradun, MIET Meerut, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Noida, ITS Muradnagar, and more participated in MEDHA 2024 Hackathon.

MEDHA 2024 provided participants with a platform where they can gain practical experience in the field of medical device innovation. Attendees could work with peers and experts from different backgrounds. The hackathon aimed at building teamwork, problem-solving, and rapid prototyping that would look into real-world clinical problems. Participants also got the opportunity to gain experience in innovating medical devices. The medical experts and engineering professionals gathered at the event also offered insights and guidance. It was followed by team presentations pitching their solutions to an eminent jury panel.

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Winners bagged the prizes under four categories, viz. Best Commercial Project (awarded to problem statements ‘Smart Wearable devices for anxiety detection during dental procedures’ and ‘Device to prevent bed sores in patients with prolonged bed stays’), Best Design (awarded to problem statements ‘Non-medicinal approach to reduce high-grade fever in infections’ and ‘Real-time sleep apnea monitoring with feedback to interrupt episodes’), Best Innovation (awarded to problem statement ‘Portable physiotherapy device to prevent caregiver back pain during sessions’) and Best Prototype (awarded to problem statements ‘Solution to protect respiratory tract from bacterial and viral infections’, ‘Portable solar-powered device for sterilizing medical equipment’, and ‘Compact, low-cost imaging devices for real-time diagnostics in remote areas’). They were allowed to participate in the IIT Bombay Medical Device Hackathon (MEDHA 2024) Stage 2.

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Dr. Preeti Bajaj, Director General of KIET Group of Institutions, commented on the event's success: "MEDHA 2024 exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation at the intersection of engineering and healthcare. The creativity and dedication displayed by our participants have been truly inspiring, and we're excited to see how these ideas will shape the future of medical technology."

Dr. K. Nagarajan, Principal, of KIET School of Pharmacy, presented a report wherein he explained how the participants began by watching videos showcasing clinical problems and then formed interdisciplinary teams to tackle these challenges. Teams went through a comprehensive process of understanding and defining the problem, brainstorming novel solutions, sketching concepts, and fabricating and testing prototypes. This hands-on approach allowed participants to experience the full cycle of medical device development in a condensed time frame.

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The Chief Guest for the Valedictory ceremony, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Director, GIMS, Greater Noida expressed his thoughts on the event by saying, “MEDHA has helped us achieve more than what we could individually. It has given us the opportunity to form interdisciplinary teams who work together to find solutions of real problems related to the medical field. The government is giving all the resources and all of us should contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.” He further encouraged the students to follow a proactive approach by visiting hospitals, conversating with patients and doctors to analyze the real problems on the ground, and devising relevant solutions for the prevention of diseases at an early stage.

Disclaimer: The content is sourced from the official press release shared by KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad.