Innovations in Affordable Healthcare at Western University

Imagine designing a toothbrush that cleans teeth, tells you where to brush more, and streams real-time video to dentists across the country—sounds futuristic, but costly, right? For the Western Biomedical Engineering Club (WEBMC), this is just one of many innovative projects turning expensive devices into tangible, affordable solutions. Since its founding in 2017, WEBMC has been a dynamic hub for students passionate about the biomedical engineering industry. The club connects its members with leading companies, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a deeper understanding of Western University’s biomedical engineering program. With over 70 members, students within WEBMC come from diverse backgrounds in engineering, and is also open to all students in different faculties.

In the past, WEBMC has previously hosted events to help students explore post-graduate opportunities within the biomedical engineering field. One of the latest events had students attend a panel with a variety of professors from electrical, mechanical and mechatronic engineering within the context of BME. This has allowed students to acquire an understanding of applied research in academia, and generate interest in this field. In addition, WEBMC has organized spotlight events with local biomedical engineering companies in the London Ontario area that showcase their work. This has provided students with the opportunity to hear from professionals in the BME field, form connections and apply for internships. Many of these students have become successful in obtaining internships from these companies. Examples include Truddell Medical, Vessl Prosthetics and Septodont.

Graduate panels hosted by WEBMC have provided students with valuable insights into current research, graduate life, and potential study areas within BME. Additionally, WEBMC has facilitated transportation to BME conferences in Toronto, giving students further opportunities to engage with the field.

At the heart of the club, WEBMC’s design team collaborates with professors to develop frugal biomedical devices aimed at addressing real-world challenges. One of their standout projects is a cost-effective toothbrush and an intra-oral camera (IOC) for low-income individuals in Kenya. Similar to commercially available toothbrushes, it informs the user if they are pressing too hard on the teeth, coming equipped with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnometer. Integrated with a Raspberry Pi, the IOC allows for live video streaming and photo capture. This innovative device aims to combat Kenya's dental crisis by enabling remote consultations and providing actionable feedback on dental hygiene practices.

Moreover, another innovative design implementation is in the charging base of the toothbrush itself. Made to appear as a mouth model of a human and be child friendly, the charging base has LED lights that guide users through the brushing process by highlighting sections of the mouth to focus on. Later, it analyzes the toothbrushing data and provides feedback to the user, highlighting areas that were brushed effectively as well as spots where excessive pressure may have been applied. Furthermore, the IOC also has integrated AI that can recognize the teeth and their anatomical reference within the mouth. The camera also has the capability to highlight cavities on specific teeth. In the future, WEBMC also plans on integrating calcification buildup detection, and diseases within the mouth.

WEBMC’s projects have provided students with hands-on experience using industry-standard tools, such as SolidWorks for mechanical design, Raspberry Pi and Arduino for prototyping, and Fusion and Eagle for PCB development. These technical skills, combined with the club’s emphasis on teamwork and innovation, have prepared its members for success in the fast-evolving biomedical engineering landscape.

Club presidents Paige Hughes and Jeffrey Donado credit the remarkable progress of WEBMC to the dedication of its executive team and members. Together, they demonstrate the effectiveness of student determination and an innovation mindset.

‍