2019 US - Japan Medical Device Innovation Forum in Kobe - Related Event2019 US - Japan Medical Device Innovation Forum in Kobe - Related Event

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YOU can be an INVENTOR! IDEA CONTEST of Dream Machines & Tests to Check & Treat Patients

Final Results

Final Results

Grand Prize

Grades 1 – 3

The SPITS merry-go-round

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:3

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This dream machine gives a test taker what kind of illness he/she is diagnosed and gives him/her prescriptions for medicines in 2 minutes ( Like conveyor belt sushi!!! ) This machine just needs test taker's spit!!!

Why do you want this machine or test?

My father died from cancer this year. If he was diagnosed earlier, he could have survived...I want the machine that can detect people's illness at the early stage by non-invasive manner...

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

This machine helps patients from getting very sick. Because patients can get proper medicine right away. You don't have to wait for the test result for a long time.

Grand Prize

Grades 4 – 6

Edema (swelling) improvement drone

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:4

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This is a machine to improve edema or swelling of the body. When detecting sites of poor blood circulation, it irradiates the sites with infrared rays or applies ultrasound to improve the circulation. It also gives electric stimulation or pulses to restore muscle strength.

Why do you want this machine or test?

My grandmother who died of cancer a year and a half ago had experienced the symptoms of edema four years prior to her death. I used to give her massages. But her edema was aggravated and her legs became swollen like elephants’ legs. It was beyond the degree my small hands could handle. She could only wear shoes for medical use. I remember her sad face looking at her favorite pair of shoes. My mother also gave her massages every day, trying all kinds of methods and machines. But my grandmother’s conditions were exacerbated day by day, and she could not walk freely in the end, and her vigor totally disappeared. I am sure there are many patients like her in the world, so I thought of making an innovative machine that can be easily used by anyone, anywhere.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

This machine would help patients to recover from edema and swelling, and to be able to walk again. If patients can ambulate by themselves, they will feel positive and have a zest for living. Just this one machine can provide treatment, rehabilitation, and massages. It is small and portable; you can use it in hospitals and homes, or anywhere. You can choose automatic operation or manual operation. Manual operation is also fun and helps them train their brains. I often see news reports on natural disasters and many evacuees suffer from economy-class syndrome (deep vein thrombosis) at shelters. I believe in such places, this machine will be of greater use.

Special Prizes

Grades 1 – 3

Tooth seeds

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:3

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This is a machine that creates the seeds of teeth. The seeds are designed to create teeth that perfectly fit individual patients. You plant these seeds on the gum, and they grow as designed.

Why do you want this machine or test?

When your adult teeth develop cavities, you may lose them. So, I thought it would be great if we had a machine that creates seeds of teeth; once planted on the gum, they grow to become the perfect teeth for you.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

This will help those elderly patients who have lost teeth because of diseases, those who cannot tolerate dentures, or those who have lost teeth due to cavities. They can have their teeth grown and start smiling and eating a lot again.

Caterpillar robot

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:2

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This is a machine that clears simple hemangioma all at once.

Why do you want this machine or test?

I have had simple hemangioma since I was born. I underwent a number of laser treatments and suffered a lot, so I wanted this kind of machine.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

If you use Caterpillar robot, the red spots unique to hemangioma will disappear. Even if you have lost confidence because of this disease, you can regain confidence.

World peace

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:2

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This is a test that can detect people who are about to wage war.

Why do you want this machine or test?

Recently, Japan and South Korea have not been on good terms and I was worried that this would eventually lead to war.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

Having a war is worse than having a disease. Never wage a war!

Memory-recalling hair accessory

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:3

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This is a machine that searches through your brain to recall something you have forgotten.

Why do you want this machine or test?

I want this machine because it can make you even forget about getting old.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

This machine explores inside your brain and detects hidden memories and informs you of the memories by voice.

Sperial Prizes

Grades 4 – 6

Flying awesome wheel chair

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:4

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

My machine allows patients to move around easily including going up and down stairs and other obstacles. There is a robot arm to help pick up things in case you drop them. There is a TV so you won't get bored. There is also a cup holder, speaker and a place plugging in headphones. The chair learns your habits and speaks to you from the speakers so that you don't feel alone.

Why do you want this machine or test?

So that my grandfather can still play with me even when he is 100 years old and he can also play with his computer.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

It will allow older and sick people to not feel stress and be able to do things like healthy people.

Mneucanson Machine

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:4

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

My dream machine cures people who have parkinson disease, cancer, and mneumonia disease.

Why do you want this machine or test?

I want this machine, because old people have parkinson disease a lot and then, they often pass away because of pneumonia disease. So, I want old people to live longer.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

My machine will help patients by entering a liquid called Blueton liquid. This liquid will help people to be recovered from cancer.

Machine that can measure “pain” around the world

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:5

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

This machine can measure pain, which is expressed in various ways depending on each individual, in a universal language.

Why do you want this machine or test?

My seven-year-old sister often visits an orthopedic clinic for sprained ankles. But when the doctor asks her where the pain is, she can’t communicate exactly where it hurts because it is inside her ankle, not to mention the type of pain; she cannot answer at all whether it is a throbbing or a tingling pain. That’s why I thought that it would be convenient if we had a machine that could measure the type, site, and level of pain universally regardless of the age or sex of the pain sufferer.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

With universally common expressions of pain, doctors can grasp the types, levels, and sites of pains appropriately, identify their cause, and provide patients with pertinent treatment.

Anytime, anywhere smooth walker

GRAND PRIZE

Grades:6

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What does your dream machine do, or what kind of test are you introducing?

Anytime, anywhere smooth walker is a skirt or a pair of trousers that can allow elderly and physically challenged patients with walking difficulties to walk easily and freely anywhere any time without effort as though they were walking in water.

Why do you want this machine or test?

My grandfather suffers from a disease that causes narrowing of the intervals between the vertebrae of the spinal column, and has lower back pain. He always walks painfully as if protecting his lower back. I have heard that walking in water is easier than walking on land, so I came up with an idea of these skirts or trousers that allow disabled people to walk smoothly as if walking in water without placing a burden on their legs and hips. With this walker, my grandfather would be able to walk, run, and enjoy fishing as he used to do in the past.

How will your machine or test help patients or be useful to people’s health?

With this walker, I think that the elderly or people with walking difficulties can enjoy their daily lives without being confined to their homes. Water is present in these skirts and trousers, so they can adjust the temperature with a dial to warm or cool them. Spats beneath these clothes function as supporters and compress, alleviating pain. If the lower back or knees hurt too much, the water volume of those areas can be increased.

FINAL JUDGING & AWARDS CEREMONY

Winners Determined for the Grand Prizes and Outstanding Performance Awards for the “Dream Machines & Tests to Check & Treat Patients IDEA CONTEST”!

The American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD) commemorated its 10th anniversary in 2019. As part of the 10th anniversary activities, we held the “Dream Machines & Tests to Check & Treat Patients IDEA CONTEST”. Here we would like to introduce how the final judging & award ceremony went.

Out of about 150 applications, ten contestants passed the stringent criteria and came to the final screening!

Since June 2019, we have been accepting ideas and illustrations for the idea contest. By September, about 150 applications were made by elementary school children throughout Japan including those attending international schools. After a rigorous evaluation process, ten finalists were chosen to make final presentations at the final judging & award ceremony at the Konan University Port Island Campus in Hyogo Prefecture on November 9. This event was a part of a Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC) public event, so many citizens around Kobe visited the AMDD event, including our medical devices and tests hands-on booth inside the contest venue.

Judges for the final judging & award ceremony included Mr. Kosuke Kato, Chairman of AMDD, Dr. Fumiaki Ikeno, a Chief Researcher of Stanford University, and Ms. Karen Kelley, Consul General of U.S. Embassy & Consulates. The ten children presented their ideas with poise even though some were nervous.

Full of ideas that everybody wishes would come true

Much creativity was displayed during the presentation; some involved presenting PowerPoint slides with photographs or using items, such as a wheelchair. Audiences were moved by how these ideas came about. Some of the ideas were based on hard times and experiences during the illnesses of family members.

During the Q&A, some judges were so excited with the ideas that they forgot to ask questions and commented, “I want this machine,” feverishly expressing their hopes for the ideas. Some went even further and asked questions on how to commercialize the ideas, since the ideas were so detailed down to the structure and specs. Both judges and children were excited with the creativity.

At the poster exhibit in the contest venue, many people stopped to marvel at the children’s abundant creativity. Also, at the hands-on booth, more than 500 children and adults came to try the medical devices and tests that they had never tried before. The devices piqued the visitors’ interests and they asked many questions out of intellectual curiosity.

Please check here (PDF) for the event program.

Comments by judges

Hoping to further familiarize Medical Devices and IVD to the people

Mr. Kosuke Kato, AMDD Chairman

“All around the world, people wish to live in good health. Every day, doctors, researchers, policy makers, and businesses around the world are striving to achieve this. Under the motto ‘Enabling a Healthier Japan,’ AMDD has been actively contributing to Japanese patients and the medical front. I am very pleased that children who are bearers of the future, from all over Japan, thought of ideas on their own and made presentations in the idea contest as part of our organization’s tenth anniversary commemorative project. I would be extremely honored if this contest gave a chance for children and those who are not yet familiar with healthcare to get to know the value of medical devices.”

Encouraging you to be a female scientist

Ms. Karen Kelley, Consul General of U.S. Embassy & Consulates

“Congratulations to all of the contestants, and especially to all of the winners. I thought that you demonstrated a lot of imagination, and a lot of creativity in your ideas. I was also especially pleased that there were so many young ladies who offered ideas. I think this is something that is a wonderful achievement. I would encourage you to think about careers in science and mathematics because you have a wonderful contribution to make to Japanese society if you continue to do so.”

Please remember the spirit of “for somebody other than yourselves”

Dr. Fumiaki Ikeno, Chief Researcher of Stanford University

“Ever since I started off as a researcher, there is something that I always bear in mind: the most important thing when generating a new thing or concept through research is the capacity to ‘heed people’s feelings as if they were your own and be considerate to others.’ All the winners today had the capacity to feel other people’s pain or issues as if they were their own and came up with impressive ideas to resolve them. I am sure that all of you who entered the contest have many choices for your future. I can assure you that wherever you live on the globe, in whatever industry, your capacity to care for others will always prove useful. Please do not forget your kindness and I look forward to your further success.”

Comments by parents of contestants

Thank you for offering us the precious opportunity for my daughter to share her ideas.
My daughter and I were especially thrilled to be awarded the grand prize.
As my daughter said in her presentation, my husband passed away in January.We moved to Japan, my native country in April; however, she did not assimilate into Japanese culture well. I continued to agonize, thinking my decision might have been wrong. Especially under these circumstances, receiving an award like this will help keep our hopes up going forward.

Thank you very much for providing a wonderful opportunity for my son to devise an invention and to share his presentation.
The minute my son entered the grand venue, he realized the enormity of the event. Although he spoke fast in his presentation, he commented afterwards that he “had fun and felt good.” Perhaps he was able to experience the sense of satisfaction, which comes after nerve-wracking ordeals. He was able to experience an opportunity that does not come by very often. After receiving the special award, he still seems to remain excited. He always wanted a programming robot, so we will use it with care. The opportunity to learn about the latest healthcare research and technologies in Kobe was also very exciting for both my son and me. I believe that such experiences will blossom in the future.
Regarding Dr. Ikeno’s words, “Thinking of others in need, taking their concerns as one’s own, and producing something out of it,” is something that is common in all professions. I hope my son will always remember these words.

“YOU can be an INVENTOR! Dream Machines & Tests to Check & Treat Patients IDEA CONTEST” was hosted by The American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD) as part of its 10th anniversary project, and was supported by Kobe City, KOBE Biomedical Innovation Cluster, Konan University Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology, and US-Japan MedTech Frontiers. This contest is also part of the Japan-US 6th Annual Medtech & Healthtech Innovation Forum.

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