Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during an emergency can be difficult for someone without proper training.
asserted
Performing → perform → training
Even when a bystander is willing to help, getting the depth and speed of chest compressions right can be challenging.
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depth → help → compressions
Four University of Washington students have developed a wallet-sized device that provides visual guidance during CPR.
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that → develop → CPR
Their invention, called CPRight, won the $10,000 undergraduate first prize at the 2026 Collegiate Inventors Competition, announced on Friday.
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invention → call → Friday
According to National Inventors Hall of Fame's (NIHF), the device is a small, single-use patch that uses LED lights to indicate whether chest compressions are being performed effectively.
uncertain
compressions → accord → lights
Unlike systems that depend on external equipment, CPRight works independently, allowing rescuers to receive feedback while performing CPR.
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rescuers → depend → CPR
Shubham Bansal, Prisha Hemani, Deeya Sharma and Nikhita Vaddineni developed the invention under the guidance of Tristan Jafari.
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Bansal → develop → Jafari
Their work was recognised at a national competition organised by the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF), which rewards inventions created by university students.
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which → recognise → students
The invention addresses a serious problem in emergency medical care.
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invention → address → care
According to the NIHF, more than 350,000 Americans experience out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies annually, with approximately 90% dying.
uncertain
% → accord → emergencies
The figures cited by the organisation highlight the importance of effective emergency assistance, particularly when medical professionals are not immediately available.
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professionals → cite → assistance
How the patch helps someone performing CPR
The idea behind CPRight is to give rescuers immediate information about their chest compressions without requiring them to operate another device.
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idea → help → device
Before starting compressions, the rescuer places the patch on the patient's sternum, commonly known as the breastbone.
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rescuer → start → breastbone
As CPR is performed, its LED indicators show whether the depth and rate of compressions are effective.
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depth → perform → compressions
The patch does not need to be connected to a smartphone or monitoring system.
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patch → need → smartphone
This allows the person performing CPR to receive visual guidance directly from the device.
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person → allow → device
The students have also kept the design compact.
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students → keep → design
Its wallet-sized form and single-use design are intended to make it a practical option for emergency situations.
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it → intend → situations
CPRight was one of several medical inventions recognised at this year's competition.
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CPRight → recognise → competition
While the University of Washington team focused on emergency resuscitation, other student groups worked on problems involving cancer treatment, rehabilitation, shoulder injuries and neurological monitoring.
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groups → focus → treatment
From knee recovery to monitoring brain activity
One of the other recognised inventions aims to help people recovering from knee injuries or surgery.
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One → monitor → injuries
Rehabilitation can continue for months, and patients may need to perform exercises at home between appointments.
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patients → continue → appointments
Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill developed KAIRS, short for Knee Artificial Intelligence Rehabilitation Sleeve, to track movement during this recovery period.
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Students → develop → period
The system uses sensors embedded in a flexible sleeve to measure knee movement and range of motion.
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system → use → motion
Information collected by the sleeve is processed through a mobile application and a cloud-based machine learning model.
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Information → collect → application
This allows patients to follow their progress while clinicians can review their movements remotely.
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clinicians → allow → movements
The invention could also help people who have difficulty accessing regular physical therapy.
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who → help → therapy
The team of Samanyu Dixit, Hieu Minh Doan, Sahaj Sapovadia and Chinmay Singh, advised by Devin Hubbard, received the $5,000 undergraduate runner-up award.
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team → advise → award
Another team focused on making brain monitoring more comfortable.
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monitoring → focus → ?
Researchers at the University of South Florida developed NeuTrode, a flexible electrode for electroencephalography (EEG), which records electrical activity in the brain.
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which → develop → brain
EEG is used to investigate conditions such as epilepsy, sleep disorders and brain injuries.
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EEG → use → epilepsy
NeuTrode is designed to maintain contact with the scalp without gels or liquids, while accommodating different hair densities, skin conditions and head shapes.
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NeuTrode → design → densities
Developed by Bridget Clift, Cristina Ramirez-Vargas and Addison Whitehead under adviser Nathan Schilaty, the invention received the $2,000 People's Choice Award.
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invention → develop → Award
Inventions focus on cancer treatment and shoulder repair
The competition also recognised a device intended to address difficulties faced by patients undergoing radiation treatment after jaw reconstruction.
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competition → focus → reconstruction
Patients with head and neck cancer sometimes require jaw reconstruction following tumour removal.
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Patients → require → removal
Titanium plates used to secure the reconstructed jaw can interfere with subsequent radiation treatment.
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plates → use → treatment
These plates may prevent radiation from reaching some tumour cells while scattering it towards healing tissue.
uncertain
plates → prevent → tissue
According to the NIHF, approximately 60% of patients develop a complication within five years.
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% → accord → years
To address this, a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine team developed ClearView-Jaw, which is designed to reduce radiation backscatter and shadowing.
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which → address → backscatter
The invention aims to help clinicians direct radiation more precisely.
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clinicians → aim → radiation
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
