Interview with Maya Krishnan from United States

As the daughter of a first responder who treated COVID-19 patients daily, and as part of a household with three susceptible members to the disease, I designed a healthcare invention which facilitates skin contact-free glove removal, through a 3D-printed system powered by a foot-pedal mechanism.

After about two years of dedicated iteration at the Design and Innovation Lab of La Jolla Country Day School (LJCDS) in San Diego, California, this functional prototype was developed. Following two successful design and prototype presentations, I secured funding to further refine and safeguard the design. Currently, the patent for the touchless glove remover is in the pending stage. I am collaborating with the La Jolla Institute for Immunology to enhance biosafety measures and aim for the eventual implementation of this innovative product.

I am a high school senior at La Jolla Country Day School, and am the primary inventor of the Touchless Glove Remover. I invented, iterated, and developed the product. My mentor is Mr. Dan Lenzen, Director of Design & Innovation at La Jolla Country Day School.

When the biosafety team at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology evaluated my product pitch and proposal for collaboration, the impact of my product was felt. I was provided feedback on how to prevent aerosol spread of germs and improve efficiency for practical application.

This product is positioned to improve biosafety for healthcare workers globally. Please find details of this collaboration here:

https://www.lji.org/blog/from-the-covid-generation-a-new-kind-of-inventor/

Healthcare professionals lack safety when removing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the presence of infectious disease. Latex gloves are removed last, involving a significant likelihood of contact with contaminated glove surfaces.

Furthermore, doctors, nurses, and medical staff constantly change gloves, another point of potential infection. According to a 2015 National Institute of Health (NIH) study, contamination occurs 46% of the time when removing gloves manually, further substantiating the urgency of the glove-to-skin contamination issue as pandemic variants and infectious diseases continue to affect the global population.

Creativity and curiosity are both integral aspects of mindful innovation. I utilized the design thinking process and the principle of innovation through iteration to design my product. I utilized both personal anecdotes and market analysis to convey my story and impact.

Healthcare professionals are our first responders and we must act to protect them. My project has contributed to raising awareness and paving the way for improving biosafety and better health outcomes.

I incorporated personal anecdotes, a competitive market analysis, and video footage of the product to advertise and capture attention. I included my experience collaborating with cutting-edge research facilities to demonstrate the urgency of this issue and deliver the health message effectively.

As a TITAN Health Award winner, I am honored and grateful. Thank you for recognizing my originality, impact, and creativity. New opportunities and avenues have opened, and I look forward to taking the TITAN Health Awards mission forward!

I invented the Touchless Glove Remover to improve biosafety for healthcare workers worldwide. The award program is dedicated to improve health outcomes, and I entered this project as a perfect alignment with my mission.

The biggest challenge with this project was establishing a working prototype. I iterated multiple times, facing obstacles including a lack of grip and inefficiency of process. I eventually established a working two part moving system as the final prototype, by working with the design thinking process and creative principles.

I am grateful to TITAN Health Awards as I have been able to develop my healthcare marketing and presentation skills. My career in biomedicine innovation has just began, and winning this award is paving my path in the healthcare industry.

The healthcare industry leads in research and development (R&D) spending as a percentage of revenue, distinguishing itself as a sector heavily invested in innovation. Furthermore, it ranks among the top industries in terms of employment, showcasing a significant workforce dedicated to health services. Additionally, the healthcare sector also bears some of the highest liabilities, reflecting the substantial responsibilities and challenges inherent in this critical field.

The United States stands out globally for its per capita spending on healthcare research and development (R&D), ranking among the highest in the world. This investment underscores the American healthcare industry's commitment to pioneering research, focused on advancing treatments and finding cures for diseases. This ongoing effort reflects a forward-looking approach in medical science and patient care.

The discovery of novel therapeutics will lead to better outcomes for many
conditions that were untreatable thus far. Technological advancements 
such as AI will bring innovations in delivery of healthcare. New medical
devices will contribute to early diagnosis of diseases.

Community colleges have many certification courses that help with
skill development and job placement in the health industry.

My mother, a first responder, diligently fulfills her professional and personal responsibilities, despite being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition.

I also see how my grandmother, in spite of undergoing multiple surgeries including those related to the heart and brain, and suffers from severe osteoarthritis continues to maintain a cheerful demeanor.

I believe that purposeful, mindful innovation is the key to success. Identifying and defining problems that impact society followed by utilizing the design thinking process to iterate and invent potential solutions, are integral parts of innovation.