LEAD
COVER STORY: Winners of MPowered's 1000 Pitches
By Nicole Bowling and Allison Goldstein
Photographs by: Anja Kreibaum and Marissa Mcclain
February 8, 2010
Meet EmboLess. This group, made up of six Engineering Master's students, won the Health category with a pitch to create a device that removes the clots that become lodged in the blood vessels of stroke patients. Ischemic stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in our country, and the prototype EmboLess designed has the potential to revolutionize the medical community by combining already established clot removal techniques. What's coolest about the whole thing? It's happening in our own backyard.
LM: So, how did you all come together to collaborate on this pitch?
EL: We're all in the same class, Graduate BME Innovative Design, and this device is something that we created for a class project. Two neurosurgeons from U of M's hospital came into our class and spoke about the current devices available and their shortcomings, and we just kind of latched onto this particular idea.
LM: And now that the idea is pitched, what's the group's ultimate goal for the device?
EL: We have to make the prototype and then see what happens. After testing we'll determine what to do next and whether or not it seems promising. We would pursue a patent if it was though.
LM: What's been the biggest challenge while working on this project?
EL: To start, coordinating all six of our schedules. But also, since we're working on vessels inside the brain, it's been really challenging to work with something on such a small scale. We're talking 1-3 mm.
LM: What's one thing you want other U of M students to know about this project?
EL: More than anything, surgeons and especially patients will benefit from this and we want to keep that central throughout the whole process.
LM: What advice would you give to another U of M student with an idea and no clue what to do next?
EL: Search out someone who would be interested in advising you. Throw your name out there for as many grants and other types of financial support as you can. And also, don't give up! Find other students with your passion and make it happen.
LM: So, how did you all come together to collaborate on this pitch?
EL: We're all in the same class, Graduate BME Innovative Design, and this device is something that we created for a class project. Two neurosurgeons from U of M's hospital came into our class and spoke about the current devices available and their shortcomings, and we just kind of latched onto this particular idea.
LM: And now that the idea is pitched, what's the group's ultimate goal for the device?
EL: We have to make the prototype and then see what happens. After testing we'll determine what to do next and whether or not it seems promising. We would pursue a patent if it was though.
LM: What's been the biggest challenge while working on this project?
EL: To start, coordinating all six of our schedules. But also, since we're working on vessels inside the brain, it's been really challenging to work with something on such a small scale. We're talking 1-3 mm.
LM: What's one thing you want other U of M students to know about this project?
EL: More than anything, surgeons and especially patients will benefit from this and we want to keep that central throughout the whole process.
LM: What advice would you give to another U of M student with an idea and no clue what to do next?
EL: Search out someone who would be interested in advising you. Throw your name out there for as many grants and other types of financial support as you can. And also, don't give up! Find other students with your passion and make it happen.