On December 21, 2024, the CREST Medical Device Challenge 2024 was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, featuring innovative solutions in the fields of engineering and medical sciences. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) had a significant presence at the event.
Event Overview
Organized by Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science, and Technology (CREST) in collaboration with the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association (MAIA) and the Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI), the competition aimed to showcase pioneering ideas in medical device technology.
USM Participation
USM participated with 18 students from the Medical Physics Programme at the School of Physics, competing in five teams under the mentorship of Dr. Nursakinah Suardi and Dr. Nik Noor Ashikin Nik Ab Razak. All participating teams advanced to the semifinals, evidencing their skills and commitment to innovation.
Award-Winning Team
One of the teams, comprised of Shaline Lavinia Justin, Safia Heidi, and Atiqah Syafiah, reached the finals and secured Third Prize. Additionally, Shaline Lavinia Justin was recognized with the Best Presenter Award for their project titled “TiO2/Cu/TiO2 Multilayer Thermoluminescence Dosimeter for Medical Diagnostic Applications.” This project demonstrated advanced research with applicable potential in medical diagnostics.
Notable Projects
The remaining teams also presented notable projects, reflecting their technical proficiency:
- One team developed a portable 532nm photobiomodulation device aimed at chronic wound healing.
- Another created a 3D-printed Doppler phantom for medical training and testing.
- A third team focused on radiation protection with a head phantom designed for measuring absorbed doses in dental X-rays.
- The final team evaluated a Perspex breast phantom equipped with dosimeters intended for mammography image quality assessment.
Conclusion
These achievements highlight the students’ dedication and the mentorship provided. USM’s performance at this event reinforces its position in fostering innovation and academic excellence within the medical device sector.
(Source: Universiti Sains Malaysia)
