In a significant boost for Indian medical technology innovation, a collaborative initiative between Lucknow's King George's Medical University (KGMU) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) has secured a patent for a groundbreaking health monitoring device. The School of International Biodesign — Synergizing Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIB SHInE) has been granted the patent for 'A wearable sensor patch for breast abnormality monitoring'.
A Collaborative Vision for Patient-Centric Solutions
The patented device is designed to support the early detection and continuous monitoring of breast health, addressing a critical gap in proactive healthcare. This innovation is a direct result of the unique model at SIB SHInE, which brings clinicians and engineers onto a common platform. Prof Rishi Sethi, Executive Director of SIB SHInE, emphasized that the school's core vision is to identify unmet clinical needs and develop practical, patient-centric solutions through such interdisciplinary collaboration.
The journey of this specific device began during the clinical immersion phase of the program's first fellowship cohort. Dr Pooja Ramakant from KGMU's endocrine surgery department provided crucial clinical mentorship. The initial unmet clinical need was identified by SIB SHInE fellow Shreya Nair, who played a pivotal role in translating the core concept into a tangible project.
From Concept to Patented Prototype
Turning the clinical insight into a functional technological prototype fell to the engineering experts at IIT-Kanpur. The engineering development was spearheaded under the guidance of Prof Tushar Sandhan from IIT-K. This seamless handoff from clinical observation to engineering execution exemplifies the biodesign process that SIB SHInE champions.
The program has already seen substantial traction, having completed two full fellowship cohorts. Sumit Kumar Vaish, Senior Programme Manager at SIB SHInE, announced that the team is now preparing to invite applications for its third cohort, aiming to nurture the next wave of healthcare innovators.
Leadership Applauds Innovation Milestone
The achievement has been met with acclaim from the leadership of the participating institutions. KGMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand congratulated the entire SIB SHInE team on this accomplishment, highlighting it as a testament to the power of collaborative research between medical and engineering disciplines.
This patent marks a key milestone for India's growing biodesign ecosystem, demonstrating that locally developed, cutting-edge medical technology can emerge from structured partnerships between premier medical and technical institutes. The wearable sensor patch stands as a promising tool in the global fight against breast cancer, aiming to make monitoring more accessible and continuous.
