Team 1: University of Geneva, Switzerland

 

Project Title: ABCDx SA: Transforming Care of Patients with Brain Injury

Prof. Jean-Charles Sanchez from Translational Biomarker Group, University of Geneva

 

Current practice for mild head trauma patients is to perform CT scan to determine presence of brain lesions. However, CT scan is expensive and can only be carried out in appropriately equipped facilities. The use of a simple blood test to rule out brain injury could render 90% of these CT scan unnecessary. We have identified blood H-FABP alone or in combination with other biomarkers with higher performance. It enables better discrimination with more than 50% of presenting patients can be ruled out for brain injury with a simple blood test, which could be carried out in virtually any location.

​

 

Team 2: St. Michael's Hospital, Canada 

 

Project Title: Discovery of Novel Drugs for Severe Influenza

Dr Warren Lee and Dr Xiao-Yan Wen from Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital

​

Influenza mutates over time, raising fears of the next flu pandemic. We need new drugs. Current approaches emphasize cell-based screening of compounds but have limitations. First, this approach neglects the importance of the body’s response to influenza, since cells cannot mimic the intact organism. Second, “hits” from cell-based screening often prove toxic. We will overcome these difficulties by using zebrafish as a model organism for influenza infections. We will screen compound libraries for agents that prevent virus‐induced death and confirm their efficacy in mice. This project will quickly identify compounds that prevent flu‐induced death, accelerating the discovery of new drugs.

​

​

Team 3: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

 

Project Title: High-Fidelity and Real-time 3D Ultrasound Visualization System via Advanced Image Denoising and Volume Rendering

Dr Harry Qin from School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

 

Last decade has witnessed significant advances in 3D/4D Ultrasound imaging technology. Compared with 2D ultrasound, 3D/4D Ultrasound can provide more anatomical and pathological information for more precise diagnosis and treatment. However, nowadays, it is still quite challenging to visualize 3D/4D ultrasound data offering high-fidelity anatomical information in a real-time manner due to speckle noise, low signal-to-noise ratio and the complicated anatomical relationship among tissues. Existing visualization systems are incompetent in anatomical feature-aware visualization for precise diagnosis and treatment. We developed a novel 3D/4D ultrasound visualization system by leveraging a set of advanced image denoising algorithms and volume rendering techniques for realistic and interactive high-dimensional 3D fetal ultrasound visualization. The proposed system has great potential to enhance the competitiveness of current ultrasound devices produced in Hong Kong, mainland and Southeast Asia. 

 

​

Team 4: W21C, University of Calgary, Canada

 

Project Title: Rhinoclear Nasal Care Solutions

Dr Brad Mechor, MD FRCSC from Rhinoclear Nasal Care Solution Inc

 

This nasal care product offers a convenient and effective solution for those suffering from sinus pain and allergies and promotes nasal health. Unlike products on the market that are inconvenient to mix and lead to further drying, infection and irritation, Rhinoclear offers a premade, clinically-proven, and effective nasal care solution and ergonomically designed rinse bottle to reduce waste and contamination.

 

 

 

Team 5:  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

 

Project Title: Use of Silicone Cannulation Model to Enhance Patient Safety in Extracorporeal Life Support Service

Mr Lai Chi Keung Peter from Queen Mary Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

​

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving technology for critically ill patients. Successful cannulation of major blood vessels is an important skill as any procedural error may result in fatal complications. We invented the first and the only silicone cannulation model in the world designed particularly for training of doctors to undertake ultrasonography-guided ECMO cannulation. The model had been trial used in physician of different countries with good feedbacks. This technology is replicable, cost effective and can significantly enhance patient safety.

 

​

Team 6:  W21C, University of Calgary, Canada

 

Project Title:  Multifunctional Video Laryngoscope

Dr Ian Schoonbaert and Dr Matthew Church from Montane Medical

 

A revolutionary tool for airway management, this multifunctional video laryngoscope’s modular design, unique attachment point and monitor stabilization gives health care providers the ability to use multiple techniques to secure an airway maximizing their chances of success in this life saving procedure.

 

 

Team 7: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

 

Project Title: Preventing False Marker Incidence at Radiology Department through Computer Vision 

Technology

Mr Tse Hon Fung, Steven and Mr Wong Ting Hei, Edward from Hong Kong Radiographers' Association  (HKRA)

​

 

Incidence of incorrect annotation of radiological images is common at radiology  department and can lead to grave consequence of patient. At radiology department, image annotation about the laterality (e.g. Left, Right) or view position (e.g. AP, PA) is required for every  image. As the annotation process is a pure human performed procedure, human error is inevitable. In order to prevent the incorrect annotation incidence at radiological department, a radiological quality control application named SureSide was developed. SureSide is a self developed DICOM application with computer vision capability to analyze the dicom tag and the annotation of radiological image. When incorrect annotation incidence occurred, warning will be issued to remind radiographer to fix the error immediately.

​

​

Team 8: St. Michael's Hospital, Canada

 

Project Title: A New Device for Percutaneous Tracheostomy

Dr Ori Rotstein presenting on behalf of Dr Joao Rezende-Neto from St. Michael's Hospital

​

Percutaneous tracheostomy is commonly performed in critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation in the ICU. The procedure facilitates breathing, weaning from mechanical ventilation, and clearing of lung secretions. It requires a small skin incision on the neck under local anesthesia. Subsequently, an opening is created on the anterior tracheal wall and a tracheostomy tube is finally introduced in the trachea. Currently, the most commonly used device to perform the procedure is the Cook Medical Ciaglia Blue Rhino ® kit. Despite its popularity, tracheostomy with the Blue Rhino® kit has significant drawbacks:

▪ Requires compression of the anterior wall of the trachea to create the opening

▪ Exposes the posterior tracheal wall to trauma during the procedure

▪ Precludes unobstructed view inside the trachea.These problems could lead to potentially serious complications. For example:

▪ Injury to the posterior tracheal wall and the esophagus

▪ Excessive bleeding

▪ False passage of the tracheostomy tube New technologies capable of addressing those limitations could potentially decrease complications in percutaneous tracheostomies. We developed a new percutaneous tracheostomy device, produced in stainless steel and already tested in the clinical setting that successfully tackles those limitations. Producing the device from less expensive material than stainless steel, yet adequate for performing the procedure is the objective of our project.

 

 

Team 9: University of Geneva, Switzerland

 

Project Title: HA Pearls

Dr Pierre Maudens from KYLYS

Dr Olivier Jordan from KYLYS and The School of Pharmacy, University of Geneva

 

Available commercial products of hyaluronic acid (HA) suffer from a very short body lifetime. Their excessively fast elimination is a clear drawback. “HA Pearls” is a unique injectable, stable, biocompatible and biodegradable material less sensitive to hyaluronidase degradation with a prolonged residence time in the body at the injection site. HA Pearls fulfills medical, surgical and cosmetic needs in the fields of osteoarthritis, tissue regeneration and aesthetic medicine. Based on our IP, we develop a portfolio of MedTech products. KYLYS, a spinoff of University of Geneva founded in 2017, is currently seeking financing to develop its technology.

 

​

Team 10:  St. Michael's Hospital, Canada

 

Project Title: IRON MOM: Addressing iron deficiency in pregnancy

Dr Michelle Sholzberg from St. Michael's Hospital

 

Iron is essential for good health, especially in pregnancy. Low iron can cause serious problems for both mother and baby, including severe anemia, blood transfusion, preterm delivery, low birth-weight, poor neurologic development and even death. Despite this, low iron is frequently not diagnosed or adequately treated. To address this important problem, we developed IRON MOM™, a toolkit that teaches care teams and patients how to manage low iron in pregnancy. Importantly, IRON MOM™ also empowers mothers to become advocates for their own health, and the health of their baby. We are seeking funding to further evaluate and improve IRON MOM™. 

 

 

 

Team 11: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

 

Project Title: Clinic Express

Mr Andy Lam and Miss Connie Yau from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

 

“Clinic Express” is a mobile app aimed to ease the pressure on public healthcare system by making use of technology to create a better acute care environment for the patients. It is a patient companion with various functions such as AI pre-triage system, consultation system, instant online medical services booking services and public education. It could help in pre-triage stage, allowing bypass of non-urgent cases to private medical services, as well as making suggestions for the benefit of urgent patients in need.

 

 

Team 12:  University of Geneva, Switzerland

 

Project Title: xMotion: Cost-Effective and Fully Customizable Wearable Hands-Free Technology to Help People with Severe Paralysis Regain Independence

Dr Ferran Galán and Dr Tomislav Milekovic from Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva

 

People with severe paralysis require hands-free technology to interact with devices, such as phones, computers and wheelchairs, that can improve their ability to communicate and live independently. Only 1 out of 10 people in need has access to current hands-free technology, because it is expensive and does not adapt to their changing functional abilities. We are developing xMotion – open source, cost-effective and fully customizable wearable hands-free technology that translates voluntary movements of the face into intuitive control of a wide range of devices. With xMotion wearables, underserved people with severe paralysis will ubiquitously interact with their environment and regain independence.

​​

 

Team 13:  W21C, University of Calgary, Canada

 

Project Title: The QuickChart Mobile Electronic Medical Record for Global Health

Dr Christopher Dainton from Medical Service Trip

 

QuickChart EMR is a smartphone-based electronic medical records app designed for organizations operating medical missions in low-resource international settings. It facilitates safe clinical practice, continuity of care, and robust metrics for medical projects in remote settings.