Through Thomas Jefferson University’s unique JeffSolves MedTech program, medical, industrial design and textile design students collaborate to improve patient care. The transdisciplinary teams conduct deep user research and identify opportunities alongside Jefferson clinicians. They then transform these insights into commercially viable innovations through an intensive product development immersion, guided by experts from Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Health and Delve.
JeffSolves recently celebrated 10 years of student-led healthcare innovation with two new products: AuraVena and HANDLED. Learn more about their concepts below.
JeffSolves MedTech Celebrates a Decade of Transdisciplinary Student Innovation
Two student teams pitched their innovative products to University colleagues and leadership. (Photos by ©Thomas Jefferson University Photography Services)
Team AuraVena designed a device to facilitate vein dilation and improve peripheral IV insertions.
What: AuraVena—a reimagined way to facilitate vein dilation and improve peripheral IV insertions in patients with challenging vascular access.
Who: Sidney Kimmel Medical College students Isaac Kravatz and Bassem Fayek; industrial design students Isaac Pellegrino and Anastasia Tukalskaya
Their Pitch: Introducing AuraVena, an electronically powered device designed to facilitate vein dilation and improve peripheral IV insertions in patients with challenging vascular access, particularly those undergoing chronic infusion therapy.
Peripheral IVs are the most common method for delivering medications, yet nearly 40% of first attempts fail, leading to repeated needle sticks, patient anxiety and lost time for hospital staff.
Through interviews with nurses and infusion center staff, we’ve identified a critical gap: Current solutions are often inconsistent, unsustainable and require manual effort.
We’ve addressed this with a sanitizable design that fits naturally into clinical workflows. A simple interface and indicators guide nurses through the process, reducing guesswork and improving success rates.
AuraVena minimizes infection risk, aligns with sanitation protocols and offers a sustainable alternative. By combining technical reliability with human-centered design, AuraVena provides a meaningful advancement in patient care.
The team designed the HANDLED bedside storage system to restore dignity, reduce waste and enhance care.
What: HANDLED—a bedside storage system designed to help hospitalized patients organize and access personal belongings, reducing item loss and improving autonomy during their stay and after discharge.
Who: Sidney Kimmel Medical College students Nicholas Wang, Spencer Haber and Tuyaa Bi; industrial design student Jeet Gajjar; and textile design student Kiana Stump
Their Pitch: Introducing HANDLED, a novel bedside storage solution that attaches to hospital bedrails, enabling patients to keep essential personal items visible, accessible and organized throughout their hospital stay—and even take it home on discharge.
Patients frequently lose or misplace critical items, such as phones, dentures, hearing aids and glasses, leading to frustration, delayed recovery and significant hospital costs. Hospitals can spend $16,000-$51,000 annually on reimbursements for lost items and $7 million-$9 million on staff time spent locating and dealing with them.
Current storage methods—drawers, over-bed tables and personal belongings bags—are inconsistent, inaccessible and often contribute to clutter or confusion. Through interviews with patients and staff, the team identified visibility and accessibility as key pain points.
HANDLED solves this with:
- A sanitizable, rail-mounted design featuring clear, color-coded pockets
- A checklist and sticker system to track and label items
- A layout tailored for six essential items: call bell, phone, dentures, hearing aids, glasses and stationery.
The result is improved patient autonomy, fewer staff interruptions and a more efficient workflow. Though HANDLED costs more upfront ($2.79 vs. $0.13 for a basic belongings bag), it offers long-term savings and better outcomes.
HANDLED is a human-centered innovation that restores dignity, reduces waste and enhances care.