KIJK magazine recently announced the best tech idea of 2017. The first prize went to an innovation in the medical sector. But the other ideas were also received with enthusiasm. A small overview.
KIJK Magazine organises the 'Tech idea of the year' competition every year. With this, the magazine puts student teams and start-ups in the spotlight who have come up with a clever technological innovation. This year, the University of Twente ran away with the first prize. A research team from this university came up with a way to administer medicines to people without the need for needles.
Seamless injection
Billions of needles are used every year in the medical world alone. Treatments in the cosmetic industry also increasingly involve needles. But besides the impact that needles have on people who fear them, it also affects the environment, which is why the start-up InkBeams developed a new method: needle-free injection of ink or medicine.
InkBeams' system consists of a low-cost laser and a cartridge. Instead of a needle, the scientists use a laser, which they focus on a fluid-filled ampoule placed on the patient's skin. The interaction with the laser creates a gas bubble that forcefully forces the liquid through the open end of the small, glass ampoule. The speed is so high that the liquid penetrates the skin directly.
InkBeams received 729 votes from the public and the jury also praised the idea. 'InkBeams is a beautiful and relevant idea,' says jury member Astrid Poot. 'Many people are afraid of needles and if this also reduces waste from discarded needles, that would be cool.'
Good news
The editor-in-chief of KIJK, André Kesseler, says the following on the website about the winning idea: 'The fear of hypodermic needles is instilled in most people from an early age. Nuclear engineer David Fernandez Rivas, an associate professor at the University of Twente, is trying to solve that problem by using a laser to get the drugs into the body. Such a system not only prevents a lot of stress and infections, but is also good for the environment. After all, billions of needles are produced every year, all of which are thrown away after use. So if Fernandez Rivas and his team succeed, it will be good news for all of us.'
Other ideas
In second place this year was Eindhoven-based start-up BitSensor with its cybersecurity software that signals hacks the moment they happen. Bronze went to GUTS with their online ticketing platform that runs on blockchain technology. Thanks to this clever system, tickets for concerts and performances can no longer be illegally resold. Other ideas that received many votes from the public are:
- Physee: A transparent coating is applied to these windows that deflects some of the incident sunlight to the frame. Here, a thin strip of solar cells converts the light into solar energy. In Amsterdam, the 'conventional' windows of a number of buildings have already been replaced by the PowerWindows.
- Lightyear: A similar idea to the one above, but focused on cars, the company Lightyear is keen to join the sustainable hype and aims to launch a commercial solar car in 2019.
- Tissue robot: To determine the nature of the disease in breast cancer, doctors take a biopsy (piece of tissue). The procedure for this is not ideal: the patient must first go under the MRI scanner to determine the location of the tissue. Then the patient leaves the MRI scanner, the doctor inserts a needle and the patient has to go back into the scanner to check if the needle is in the right place. This should change with Stormram 4, a small plastic robot that rolls out of the 3D printer and is powered by air pressure. The device can take a biopsy while the patient is still in the MRI scanner.
By: Kelly Bakker
Source: Kijkmagazine.nl/Utwente.nl
