What happens when a student sees a life-threatening problem and refuses to accept that “this is just the way it’s done”?
On this episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast, host Mark Weinstein talks with Dr. Tim Norman, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, and Dr. Lauren Edmondson, a 2019 Cedarville graduate and physician, about an innovative medical device that began as a student idea in 2018 and has now received FDA approval.
While taking an EMT course at Cedarville, Lauren encountered a story about a traumatic carotid artery injury in which a medic had to hold pressure on a patient’s neck throughout the entire trip to the hospital. The experience sparked a question: Could a device provide the necessary pressure while freeing the medic to care for other patients?
That question became the foundation for the Arterial Restriction Clamp (ARC). Lauren brought the idea to Dr. Norman, who assembled a senior design team of engineering students to develop a solution. The result is a lightweight, multifunctional device designed to address difficult bleeding situations while allowing medical professionals to continue providing care.
In this episode, hear about an allied health student and engineering professor’s collaboration across disciplines, the years of testing and research required to pursue FDA approval, the challenges of securing a patent and funding development, and the team’s vision for bringing the device to military medics and other first responders.
More than a medical innovation, the ARC represents the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, student initiative, and problem-solving with a purpose. What began as a Cedarville senior design project has grown into an effort with the potential to help save lives and bring patients home to their families.
Listen to this inspiring story of faith, innovation, perseverance, and a student idea that became a life-saving technology.
Posted in: Podcast