Innovations in Health Care opens at The Tech Museum of Innovation
New exhibit lets visitors explore how tech can improve health care
San Jose, Calif. Life-saving technology and the creative thinking behind it are the focus of Innovations in Healthcare, presented by El Camino Hospital, a new exhibit at The Tech Museum of Innovation in downtown San Jose.
The exhibit invites guests to explore an array of medical technologies, many of which stemmed from unlikely sources of inspiration or were created by inventors outside of relevant fields.
One such device, the Embrace Warmer, was developed by Stanford students looking to increase survival rates of low-birth-weight babies in areas lacking in modern medical equipment. The team spent months testing and retesting prototypes before developing a device that has helped more than 50,000 babies survive — at just 1% the cost of a traditional incubator. The Embrace team was honored as a laureate of The Tech Awards in 2012 and won the Laureate Impact Award in 2015.
“Providing life-saving tools and technology to people in the most desperate situations will make the difference in how we use our abundance of resources to shape the world and its millions of vulnerable inhabitants,” said Tim Ritchie, President and CEO of The Tech.
The exhibit also invites guests to explore how a dog’s sense of smell might help detect cancer, brainstorm new ways to filter water in developing nations, contemplate how 3D printing can be used to create skin and organs and much more.
“These innovations were created by regular people who ‘found their why,’ ” said Michelle Maranowski, exhibit curator. “The amazing thing is anyone can do it. All it takes is a spark and some determination. You never know where the next great innovation will come from.”
Guests are invited to step into the role of innovator as they complete hands-on activities and challenges that accompany each display in the exhibit. Another highlight is the Anatomage table, a 3D interactive display that acts like a virtual operating table.
“From being the first hospital to install a computer-aided medical information system to being a clinical trial test site for today’s leading-edge medical devices, El Camino Hospital has a long history of being at the forefront of medical innovation in Silicon Valley,” said Tomi Ryba, President & CEO of El Camino Hospital. “We are pleased to sponsor the Innovations in Health Care exhibit which allows community members to experience the evolution of medical technologies and the impact they are having on health.”
Special thanks to William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation and Abbott for their support of this exhibit.
Media Tours available, Monday. Feb. 15 10:00 a.m- 12 p.m.
Contact: Janette Ciborowski, The Tech
(408) 795-6229
jciborowski@thetech.org
About The Tech Museum of Innovation
The Tech is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum — located in the Capital of Silicon Valley — is a non-profit experiential learning resource established to engage people in exploring and experiencing applied technologies affecting their lives. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge presented by EMC, our annual team-design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as The Tech Awards presented by Applied Materials, The Tech endeavors to inspire the innovator in everyone.
Media Contact: Janette Ciborowski, Communications Manager Signature Programs (408) 795-6229 jciborowski@thetech.org