{"id":25246,"date":"2014-06-09T16:19:52","date_gmt":"2014-06-10T02:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=25246"},"modified":"2021-10-29T14:05:12","modified_gmt":"2021-10-30T00:05:12","slug":"uh-startup-smartummy-places-in-national-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2014\/06\/09\/uh-startup-smartummy-places-in-national-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"东精影业<\/abbr> startup SmarTummy places in national competition"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Larry Martin presents SmarTummy at the ASME IShow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> startup company that designed a unique medical training device has won 3rd<\/sup> place in a national competition—the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2014 Innovation Showcase<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SMARTUMMY LLC<\/abbr>, (SmarTummy) led by University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa graduate student Larry Martin<\/strong>, has developed a tool to train medical, nursing and osteopathic students in conducting an abdominal palpation exam.<\/p>\n

The proprietary device consists of a manikin torso embedded with reconfigurable inflatables that replicate the tactile feel of a variety of abdominal ailments. A user-friendly computer interface allows an instructor to select from a series of pre-programmed patient conditions and control the location, rigidity and distention of simulated ailments.<\/p>\n

“The abdominal palpation exam is a fundamental, yet critical, skill for every student studying to be a healthcare professional to master,” said Martin, who serves as CEO<\/abbr>. “Today, schools must rely on walk-in patient volunteers as the primary means of practicing this important skill. More than likely most of these students will meet their first real patients after graduation in a hospital or other clinical setting, thus learning physical diagnosis as part of on-the-job training.”<\/p>\n