Surrey student builds wearable that detects IV leaks before swelling

Surrey Academy of Innovative Learning student Akshath Anand, aged 13 or 14, achieved a remarkable feat by winning a gold medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton with his medical technology project, Veino – IV Safety Monitoring System. This wearable device utilizes smart pressure sensors to detect intravenous (IV) leaks before they become visible or painful for patients, alerting nurses early enough to prevent swelling, bruising, and tissue irritation.

This innovative solution, built for patient comfort and early detection, impressed the judges and set Akshath apart as a rare first-time national competitor. His success stems from a simple yet powerful observation: there should be a better way to ensure the safety of patients undergoing IV therapy. By focusing on real-world medical issues, Akshath demonstrated exceptional engineering, health science, and practical design skills, highlighting the potential for his invention to improve hospital care and be applied in other procedures like endoscopies.

Akshath’s journey to the national stage began at the South Fraser Regional Science Fair, where he secured a spot at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. For a Grade 9 student, his level of understanding and innovation is exceptional, and his national recognition underscores the power of student innovation addressing genuine needs. Beyond the accolades, Akshath’s achievement emphasizes the importance of STEM education in nurturing young minds to tackle real-world problems, and he has earned multiple awards including the Excellence Award, Challenge Award in Health & Wellness, Youth Can Innovate Award, and scholarships from the University of Alberta and Western University.

His win highlights the impact of student innovation, proving that a practical solution to a significant problem can emerge from a school-based idea and capture national attention. Surrey also celebrated another student success with Sreya Kurup of Frank Hurt Secondary, whose work on staph infections and antimicrobial resistance also earned top honors at the fair.