VIRTUAL TOUR
2010
25 OctUCSI UNIVERSITY INVENTION WINS AWARD
Kuala Lumpur, 25 October, 2010 - UCSI University’s lecturer, Engr. Rodney Tan Hean Gay and student, Lee Thean Chai from UCSI University’s Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment recently won the coveted award for Best Innovation in Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Applications by National Instruments. The accolade was for their invention the Cool/Heat Therapy Strap which overcomes the shortcomings of the traditional cold and warm compresses.
A cold or warm compress as a means of relieving pain for a sprained joint, or an aching body, has been in practice for many centuries. The trick is to get the right temperature, and knowing to apply either a cold or warm compress. Engr. Tan and Lee took to task to develop the Cool/Heat Therapy Strap which could not only control, but also retain the right temperature for the relief of such aches and sprains.
The award-winning invention utilises the cooling and heating properties of a thermoelectric surface while applying PID (Proportional, Integration and Derivative) control and the Pulse Width Modulation method to achieve thermoelectric suitable for therapeutic purposes.
The device also includes a user-friendly interface that could be used by a home-user, or by the medical personnel. With this interface, the everyday user merely needs to select an operation mode suitable for them. This covers fevers, blood circulation enhancement, muscle pain relief and relief of swellings.
The idea behind this innovative device was initiated by Engr. Tan himself, who suffers from aches now and then due to arthritis. “The traditional hot water bottle does not stay at the ideal temperature for long, and one needs to refill it with hot water after less than 30 minutes, which is a hassle. The best feature of this invention is that the temperature remains constant, and one is able to adjust the temperature at will.” Lee, who took the idea to the next level had his own set of stumbling blocks along the way, but found the right “ingredients” for the device in the end. “It was challenging, but it was all worth it!”
The submission by Lee and Engr. Tan defeated 16 other submissions from other local institutions, including those from University Malaysia Perlis, Taylors University College, Monash University, Multimedia University and University Putra Malaysia. UCSI University also submitted 6 other submissions to National Instruments, earning the University the Academic Appreciation Award for Best LabVIEW Advocate. LabView is a graphical programming environment by National Instruments, used by millions of engineers and scientists, to test and control systems using intuitive graphical icons and wires.
The LabVIEW and other state-of-the-art engineering equipment which are readily available at the laboratories of the University’s School of Engineering enable students to innovate their ideas into actual working products.
Engr. Tan and his team of research students are already working on other projects for submissions to other competitions occurring at the end of this year.
