Lisa Helen has a groundbreaking idea to make needles smarter with technology much like a parking sensor.

Lisa Helen completed her final-year project at Tyndall National Institute on the development of a ‘smart’ needle. Through funding from the Irish Research Council, she is progressing this project as a PhD researcher.

Through her research, Helen has developed a way to integrate an impedance sensor to a hypodermic needle tip. This sensorised needle can then differentiate between tissue types, confirming a real-time needle location under the skin.

This parking sensor-style solution makes way for an innovative type of anaesthesia, making it more accurate and efficient while also decreasing procedural risks for the patient.

Inspirefest 2017

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Words by Elaine Burke