Zapopan, Jalisco; December 12, 2024.— The Universidad Panamericana once again stood out as a leader in design and innovation by winning several awards at the MX2024 National Design Awards, held at the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City.
Researchers, faculty members, and students from the institution were recognized for their projects, which highlighted their focus on innovation in the field of medical technology, establishing them as leaders in research and design in Mexico.
Projects with an Impact in the Medical Field
One of the top award-winning projects was “Victoria, an artificial lymphatic vessel”, developed by Dr. Gabriela Durán of the Universidad Panamericana Aguascalientes campus; and Dr. Alberto Rossa, from the the Guadalajara campus; and Dr. Rita Fuentes, from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Guadalajara Campus.
This innovative lymphatic cup, designed to aid in the treatment of lymphedema in patients who have undergone a mastectomy, won four awards, including the winner of the “Medical Equipment” subcategory, the “Product Design” category, and the Special Award for the Project with the Greatest Technological Impact.
“It’s a small, two-millimeter tube, made using nanoimprinting, with more valves and greater flexibility, designed for women who have had a mastectomy,” said Dr. Rossa.
Innovation in Physical Rehabilitation and Medical Technology
Another award-winning project in the professional field was ThermoFisioScan, a thermographic scanner for physical rehabilitation, which received the award in the categories of “Hardware for Electronic Devices” and “Electronic Equipment Interfaces”.
Dr. Rossa, David Vidaña, M.A., Dr. Durán, Dr. Leonardo Valdivia, Margarita Kaplun, M.A., and Ignacio Charretón, Eng., developed this project to improve therapeutic practice.
The scanner is designed to make therapists' work easier through a specialized interface that allows them to manage and track appointments and treatments.
Award-Winning Research in Design
In the field of research, the * Universidad Panamericana * also stood out with the article "Human-Object Interaction: Development of a Usability Index for Product Design Using a Hierarchical Fuzzy Axiomatic Design", which was awarded the Best Research Article in Design.
This study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, was led by Dr. Rossa, Dr. Mayra Peña, Dr. Omar Balderrama, Dr. Aide Maldonado, researcher David Cortés, and Dr. Juan L. Hernández, and involved evaluating the usability of tools for human users, offering new perspectives for the design of more efficient products.
Solution for Vaccine Distribution in Vulnerable Areas
Inspired by the story of Balto, a Siberian husky who helped deliver diphtheria antitoxin in Alaska in 1925, the project Balto project won several awards in the categories of “Product Design” and the special recognition “HONOR” for Best Student Project.
This project, developed by students Elizabeth Baranzini, Xelha Mejía, Ana Cristina López, and Andrea Sarahí Ruiz, under the supervision of Mtro. Vidaña and Dr. Rossa, consists of a portable cooler for transporting vaccines to vulnerable areas, especially in emergency situations.
“They developed a backpack with an electronic mechanism for transporting vaccines that can be converted into a table, ensuring that the vaccines remain stable throughout the entire day,” explained Dr. Rossa.
Sustainability Award: RECCO
In the category of “Packaging”, the RECCOproject, an eco-friendly collector for hospital waste, received the award for its innovative design. Students Santiago Ramírez, Ana Gabriela Manzano, Guillermo Alejandro Juárez, and Marco Antonio Fregoso developed this project under the guidance of Dr. Fabiola Cortés.
“The cardboard waste bin collects biological waste in hospitals and makes it easier to seal and transport for incineration,”, explained Dr. Rossa.
A prestigious award for the Universidad Panamericana
With these awards, the Universidad Panamericana continues to establish itself as a leader in cutting-edge research, innovation, and design in Mexico, demonstrating once again its commitment to technological advancement and the development of solutions that positively impact society.
The institution is proud of the work carried out by its researchers, faculty, and students, who continue to excel in the fields of medicine, technology, and design.
Learn more about our research advances at the Universidad Panamericana: https://www.up.edu.mx/tema/noticias/investigacion/
