MDes Student Team Awarded the Jacobs Innovation Catalyst Ignite Grant

MDes Student Team, Abhi Ghavalkar (MDes, SP22), Mercedes Saldaña (MDes, SP22), Penny Lin (MDes, SP22), have been awarded the Jacobs Innovation Catalyst Ignite Grant for their project Limb-O2 Multi-patient Attachment for Medical Ventilators. Limb-O2 was one of five projects selected by the Jacobs Student Advisory Board and leadership team for the Ignite Grant, which awards student groups up to $2000 to continue in-progress projects.

Limb O2 is an attachment for medical ventilaors that allows up to four patients to share a single machine safely. For under $800—using standard components and one novel, 3D printed part—the product allows medical facilities in developing nations to increase their capacity by 300% by simply plugging into an existing ventilator.

With the Ignite grant, Abhi, Mercedes and Penny will work on their project over the semester with the support of funding and mentorship from Jacobs Hall and the CITRIS Invention Lab. Specifically, they have access to the Jacobs Hall Makerspace’s resources and remote fabrication services, as well as on-going guidance from Jacobs Student Advisory Board, Jacobs Technical Staff, and Design Fellows to develop this ground-breaking project further.