The four students received the Siemens Innovative Student of the Year Award for the creation of an improved feeding tube insertion device
Four University of Limerick engineering students, Rachel O’Dell, Muirne McCarthy, Mary Carey, and Ella Murphy, have been awarded the Siemens Innovative Student of the Year Award by Engineers Ireland.
They took home the top prize for their project, Pilot, which is a handheld bio-medical device for enternal feeding. They developed this idea through their startup called Precision Path Medical.
The innovative healthcare device allows for more efficient placement by doctors of nasointestinal feeding tubes, reducing insertion times and patient discomfort through its directional guidance feature.
The Siemens award recognises the best projects by third-level engineering students that showcase innovation, sustainability and commercial potential. It’s now in its 25th year.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Mary Carey told the Limerick Voice; ‘Our journey developing ‘Pilot’ started 12 months ago… We are so immensely proud of the progress our project has made over that time frame as we accept the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year award.’
‘We are truly delighted and honoured to accept this award, as it not only celebrates our achievements but also inspires us to continue striving for innovation and positive impact in our field. It was both inspiring and impressive to see the calibre of innovation showcased on the day from the fellow finalists.’
The ladies are excited to see what the future holds for Precision Path Medical.
They weren’t the only UL cohort at the awards ceremony. Liam O’Brien, Michael Howe, Thomas Ryan, Stephen Rochford, and Peter O’Donoghue were also finalists for their project, Glute Guard, which is a wheelchair cushion designed to prevent pressure ulcers.
Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland spoke following the ceremony on Friday;
‘Engineering in healthcare has grown significantly in recent years, which an expanding range of new devices both aiding both healthcare practitioners in delivering care and adding to the quality of life of patients.’
Damien added; ‘Through their remarkable project, Pilot, today’s winners Rachel O’Dell, Muirne McCarthy, Mary Carey, and Ella Murphy have found yet another avenue through which engineering can improve the experiences doctors and patients alike.’