Breakthrough in Low-Cost, Automated Chemotherapy Treatment Wins $20,000 Global Design Competition

ChemoPatch™, a low-cost, disposable, electronic patch-based cancer chemotherapy device designed to be simple, automated, and easy-to-use by cancer patients outside of the hospital, has been awarded the grand prize of $20,000 in the 2013 “Create the Future” Design Contest.

The ChemoPatch, a game-changing, patent-pending device, is able to administer up to three different chemotherapy drugs in select doses and at specific time intervals. Drug delivery is automated, allowing patients to reduce the frequency of hospital visits. The device is undergoing CE mark approval processes in the UK and will start clinical trials in India.

ChemoPatch was among the more than 925 new product ideas submitted in the 11^th annual design contest, which was established in 2002 to recognize and reward engineering innovations that benefit humanity, the environment, and the economy. This year’s design contest was co-sponsored by COMSOL (www.comsol.com) and SAE International (www.sae.org).

Alydaar Rangwala, a student at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA), is part of the design team and views this invention as cutting-edge in its ability to deliver quality early-stage chemotherapy in developing countries. The existing methods for administration of these drugs have been primarily through intravenous delivery via a complex and costly pole-based infusion pump setup. As a result, infusion pumps have prevented treatment for early-stage cancers from becoming widely accessible.

“We are shocked and excited to have this tremendous opportunity to move forward with our design,” Mr. Rangwala said, “this prize will help us to progress with the manufacturing process. We would like to extend a big ‘Thank You’ to the contest sponsors for making this happen.”

In addition to the grand prize of $20,000, first-place winners (of Hewlett-Packard workstations) were named in eight categories:

Aerospace & Defense – sponsored by TE Connectivity Microwave Extraction of Water for Space Propellant Edwin Ethridge A method to reduce the cost of spacecraft launches by producing rocket propellant in-space from water.http://contest.techbriefs.com/2013/entries/aerospace-and-defense/3619

Consumer Products Plant Air Purifier  James Schaeffer (team leader) An appliance that utilizes the recently discovered air-cleaning capacity of root-associated microbes living synergistically with common houseplants to trap and consume toxins in the air.http://contest.techbriefs.com/2013/entries/consumer-products/3675

Electronics – sponsored by W. L. Gore & Associates iPecs Pro Clinical Prosthetic Alignment and Assessment Tool Michael Leydet (team leader) A measurement and assessment tool to improve the fitting, adjustment, and alignment of prosthetic devices, resulting in greater mobility for the patient.   http://contest.techbriefs.com/2013/entries/electronics/3155

Machinery & Equipment Fuel Flexible, Ultra-Portable Microturbine Generator Erik Herold (team leader) A portable power generation system that is reliable, requires little maintenance, and can operate continuously for extended periods of time.http://contest.techbriefs.com/2013/entries/machinery-and-equipment/3579

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