Fujifilm executives laud MediKey medical data storage system developed by Stevens seniors
A student computer science team's senior design project at Stevens Institute of Technology earned high praise from top executives of the Computer Products Division of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., of Elmsford, N.Y., following an April 23 on-campus demonstration.
Stevens students developed the application for the new USB removable storage technology, which they named the MediKey data storage device. It was so named because it is small enough to be carried on a keychain but loaded with enough memory to store and update an individual's complete medical history. The concept and potential application was the project of a team of 12 Stevens seniors, working under the supervision of Professor Larry Bernstein in the Department of Computer Science.
The idea for the project was entrusted to the senior design team, offering the students an opportunity to address serious real world needs. Fujifilm supplied the sample, prototype USB products for the team's work. The Computer Products Division of Fujifilm plans to release the USB removable storage device, with potential business applications across many industries, during the next few months.
After the live demonstration, during which high-quality X-ray and MRI imagery was retrieved from the MediKey and projected on a screen, the executives attending from Fujifilm were elated.
"The students showed a creative approach to the concept, and to a potential real world application of the technology," said Steven A. Solomon, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Computer Products Division at Fujifilm. "It's tremendous to see this kind of thoroughness demonstrated in the innovative thinking of these young people. Fujifilm is in the business of encouraging an integrated approach to imaging, information, and data storage. These technologies are converging in the marketplace, and these students clearly understood that business imperative."
Stevens Trustee Arthur Imperatore, who viewed an earlier demo, was equally impressed.
"The entrepreneurial spirit is alive in these students," he said. "Their collaboration with Professor Bernstein and with Fujifilm provided them with insights into making a practical technology application.
"Sending medical records from place to place," he continued, " and getting them there in good time, was once part of a difficult process. Something like this device, which you can carry in your pocket, will make the accuracy of record keeping and the delivery of quality healthcare so much easier - in a way I could not have envisioned when I was young."
The MediKey device is about the size of a magic marker, with one curved end and one connector end that plugs into any laptop computer's USB port. It contains (in its current demo model) about 128MB of memory, of which the MediKey application uses about 200KB.
Within the application are modules that store records for medications, diagnoses, doctors/insurance coverage, billing and expenses, and X-ray views. There is also a facility for connecting to medical Web search engines, i.e., WebMD.com, DrKoop.com and others.
"These kids are tremendously flexible in their thinking," said Professor Bernstein. "You can watch them inventing not just medical applications for this prototype device, but applications for many other aspects of life."
Among the team members presenting at the MediKey demo were Krunal Shah, Dennis Thomas and Jason Frey.
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.
Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.
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