It All Starts with an Idea
Presented by the James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation, the University’s Bench to Bedside (B2B) competition sits at the forefront of bridging the gap between concept and real-world health care solutions.
By: Meghan Bubel, MBA ‘23
Courtesy photos; istock
In the ever-evolving landscape of health care, innovation is the driving force behind improved patient care and outcomes. Presented by the James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation, the University’s Bench to Bedside (B2B) competition sits at the forefront of bridging the gap between concept and real-world health care solutions.
Through Bench to Bedside, student competitors from across the U—including business, engineering, and medical students—partner with U of U Health clinicians to bring their medical innovations to life. Students might develop a new idea from scratch or build a solution for problems that affect clinicians’ day-to-day routines. Throughout the school year, competing teams receive $500 to explore their ideas and build prototype devices. Additionally, they engage with third-year law students from the S.J. Quinney College of Law to navigate the intricate world of patent-filing. The top-performing teams earn milestone funding totaling $100,000, awarded at the annual B2B competition night at the Utah State Capitol building each April.
Throughout its 14 years, B2B has helped develop 325 new technologies. Learn more about three of those ideas—LaparoVision, SoundPass, and Alevatrix—and the problems they helped solve.
LaparoVision
Persistent optical disruptions from smudged scope lenses interrupt 90% of robotic-assisted surgeries. The accumulation of condensation, particulate debris (fat tissue and cautery), and blood on scope lenses during surgery leads to these optical problems, resulting in the formation of optical smears.
“The problem of visual disruptions in the OR is only intensifying with the adoption of robotic and automated procedures,” said Jacob Sheffield, co-founder and CEO of Bloom Surgical.
Bloom Surgical’s solution? A rapid-response scope-lens cleaning tool eliminates visual disruptions, makes procedure times more efficient, and reduces surgeon decision fatigue—benefiting patients and their safety.
SoundPass
In urgent cases of traumatic brain injury, it is critical for neurosurgeons to drain cerebral spinal fluid. They do this by inserting a catheter into a lateral ventricle of the brain. SoundPass is an ultrasound imaging-equipped stylet meticulously designed to provide clear guidance to medical providers, ensuring precise placement and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.
Throughout the school year, competing teams receive $500 to explore their ideas and build prototype devices.
Alevatrix
Alevatrix is Rebel Medicine’s flagship product: an injectable, extended-release bupivacaine gel designed to provide non-opioid pain relief after surgical procedures. This innovative solution, currently under development, aims to offer three to four days of pain relief after a single administration, marking a significant step forward in post-operative pain management.
