Bioengineering Students Present Projects At Hollister Conference

The culmination of the bioengineering educational experience is the capstone design project. This consists of teams of undergraduate students, led by master’s students, applying engineering principles to solve a real-world problem in human health. In the past, projects have included a water filtration system, a wearable brace for ligament tears and even devices designed to assist childbirth. This year, two Department of Bioengineering M.Eng students, David Chung and Yesui Delgermunkh, got to take their project beyond the classroom and present at a conference hosted by their corporate sponsor, Hollister Inc. The Hollister Capstone Ecosystem Conference brings together engineering students to discuss design innovation with biomedical professionals. This opportunity reflects the department’s continued emphasis on industry-engaged, real-world problem solving through its capstone program. 

This unique experience allowed students to practice their presentation skills in a more formal, industry-like setting. “Presenting at the Hollister Capstone Ecosystem Conference was a very different experience from a classroom presentation,” said Delgermunkh. “Speaking with industry professionals helped me better understand the real-world impact of our design, not just for Hollister, but ultimately for clinicians and patients who rely on safer catheterization methods.”

Delgermunkh presented a catheter training model designed to simulate the male urethra. Catheter insertion in male patients can be challenging and painful. Delgermunkh’s model will allow nurses and doctors to train more effectively, easing this painful procedure.

Chung’s project focuses on ventilator safety, continuing the university’s proud tradition of innovation in respiratory care. When the central tube of the ventilator is not held in the proper position, these devices can damage the patient’s face over time. Chung and his group are redesigning endotracheal tube holders to better distribute pressure and minimize the damage.

Chung was nervous at the prospect of presenting to industry professionals, but found the experience to be rewarding: “Initially, given the audience’s expertise and experience at the conference, I was apprehensive about presenting to industry experts; however, the guests were incredibly approachable and brought a highly industry-focused perspective and a deeper level of investment, leading to discussions around design tradeoffs, testing justifications, and future directions for the project.”

Professor Holly Golecki was also at the conference, giving a talk entitled “Industry and Academia Partnerships: Impacts, perspectives, and opportunities for Capstone Design.” “It is an incredibly valuable experience for students to have the opportunity to work with industry partners during Capstone," said professor Golecki. “It connects and reinforces their bioengineering education through application of everything they've learned to an authentic project.”

Partnership with industry is central to the Department of Bioengineering's mission. Its students are contributing to solutions that address real patient needs before they even graduate. David Chung puts it best: “Overall, the Capstone experience shifted my mindset from thinking like a student to thinking like an engineer, reinforcing my goal of becoming a physician-innovator who not only practices medicine, but also develops impactful medical solutions for diverse patient populations.”

David Chung and Yesui Delgermunkh expressed gratitude to Dr. Michael Craven, Dr. Adrian Defante, professors Jenny Amos and Holly Golecki, the Capstone Project teaching assistants, industry professionals who assisted their project and the Department of Bioengineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.