Proof of Concept Awards

Jessica Ciarla Sustainable Trimmings for the Fashion Industry

Synopsis:

Roughly 20% of the nearly 400 million tons of plastic produced globally using fossil fuels is for textile fibers and only about 15% of it is recycled. UT inventors are developing non-plastic sustainable trimmings and embellishments, such as sequins, for the fashion industry using compostable polylactic acid.

Emily Porter High-resolution Microwave Stroke Detection and Imaging

Synopsis:

The current standard for assessment of nearly one million strokes in the United States per year occurs when the patient gets to the hospital, using expensive and time-consuming CT and MRI technologies. UT engineers have developed a low-cost, three-dimensional microwave imaging technology that is supported by machine learning for mobile, rapid, stoke triage and assessment. This can save critical time and lives.

Alex Demkov Manufacturing Electro-optic Wafers for Silicon Photonics

Synopsis:

The rapid growth of global internet traffic is driving rapid growth in demand for computing power and data transmission but current silicon photonic technology cannot fully meet the demand. UT physicists have invented a new process that can easily integrate electro-optic material on silicon which can potentially provide a universal platform for next-generation silicon photonics with a 100X increase in modulation efficiency.

Daniel Stromberg Endotracheal Tube Securement/Adjustment Device

Synopsis:

Pediatric intensive care patients require ventilation via endotracheal tubes that are secured to the baby’s face with tape, making adjustment difficult, risky, and often ineffective. UT physicians and scientists are developing a novel device for endotracheal tube securement and precise adjustment, resulting in better tube positioning and more effective treatment.

Aaron Baker Drug Eluting Chest Tube for Pain Reduction Following Surgery

Synopsis:

Traditional chest tubes are simple medical devices that are essential for draining the area around the lungs following surgery or injury. While these devices provide an important, lifesaving function they also cause constant, intense pain that requires treatment with opioid pain medication. UT innovators have developed a new chest tube that elutes local non-opioid anesthetic agents for pain reduction following cardiothoracic surgeries and trauma.

Aaron Baker Stem Cell Conditioning for Enhanced Vascular Regeneration

Synopsis:

Currently, there is no treatment available that addresses the lack of microvasculature caused by long-term peripheral arterial disease, a chronic, progressive disease that affects 20% of the US population over 65 years old. UT engineers and physicians have invented a device that can enhance stem cell therapies for treating peripheral arterial disease in a brand new way. Using novel technology, we have found ways to increased stem cell expansion and efficacy in treating peripheral arterial disease and ischemia.

Salvatore Salamone Rail Defect Detection by Noncontact Vibration Measurements

Synopsis:

Nonvisible transverse defects in railways are one of the main causes of railway track-related incidents, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in the past two decades. Current rail inspection technologies cannot be mounted on operating train cars and are only reliable at slow speeds, costing railway operators time and money. UT engineers have developed a laser doppler system that can be used on operating trains and at much higher speeds.

Jonathan Chen Fabric Strain Sensor Device for Pharyngeal Rehabilitation

Synopsis:

Swallowing dysfunction affects roughly 500,000 children and nine million adults in the US, potentially resulting in life-threatening choking and pneumonia. Clinical swallowing evaluations and technology only capture a snapshot of behavior, resulting in low validity of current testing, especially for children. UT scientists are seeking to provide a noninvasive and unobtrusive testing procedure for patients using novel sensing fabric that is able to be worn and washed for daily living.

Farshid Alambeigi Steerable Surgical Drilling Device

Synopsis:

Current orthopedic drills can only drill in a straight line, making surgeries involving complex anatomies more time consuming and less successful. UT engineers have invented a handheld steerable drill for surgeries that require curved trajectories, allowing more efficient and more successful procedures.

Janet Zoldan Sustainable Beef Brisket

Synopsis:

Current meat production will not be able to meet the increasing demand across the globe and it’s negative environmental impact is only growing. UT biomedical engineers are using a patented scaffolding technology to develop cultured beef brisket with similar look, texture, and taste.

Delia Milliron Flexible and Smart Window Film for Energy Efficiency

Synopsis:

Roughly half of the energy consumption in the United States for buildings is for thermal control and lighting. New smart windows can control heat and light from the sun to improve energy performance in buildings but nearly all installed windows lack these capabilities and it is extremely expensive to replace windows in commercial buildings. UT researchers are developing an innovative, low-cost, film that can be applied to existing windows to dynamically control the amount of heat and light that goes through windows.

Andrew Ellington Low-cost Rapid Diagnostic Enzyme Complex

Synopsis:

There is a global need for point-of-care diagnostic tests for infections but the key enzyme components of these tests can be expensive or hard to obtain. UT researchers have invented an extremely low-cost preparation method for key enzymes used in diagnostic tests that can enable rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.