Undergrads’ “intelligent” surgical drill takes third at Collegiate Inventors Competition

An “intelligent” drill developed by Johns Hopkins students to improve orthopedic surgical procedures was awarded third-place honors in the undergraduate division of the 2010 Collegiate Inventors Competition. The team received $2,500 in prize money for its entry, which was among five finalist projects competing Oct. 27 at a Washington, D.C., ceremony.

The device can be attached to orthopedic surgical drills to detect sudden changes in drilling speed as well as changes in the tilt and direction of the drill.

The student team was represented by Leyla Isik, Salina Khushal, Michael Shen, and Emilie Yeh, all of whom graduated last May. Other past and present Johns Hopkins students who participated on the design team were John Thomas, Hyun-Sun Seo, Samrie Beshah, Maher Khalil, Jonathan LeMoel and German Om. The prize money will be shared equally among all 10 team members.