The USC Department of Computer Engineering won the Best Exhibit Award during the Teknolunas 2024: 4th Philippine Biomedical Engineering Conference and Exhibits on September 4-6, 2024, at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu City. 

Associate Professor Luis Gerardo S. Cañete Jr., Ph.D. and graduate students Andre Kimberly Trish D. D’Silva and Danica Marie A. Dumalagan showcased their award-winning AI-assisted Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Hand Rehabilitation System, which won as the best exhibit among all the entries. 

The three-day event aims to “transform research into practical and accessible biomedical devices” since almost 99.2% of the biomedical devices in the Philippines are imported. 

This year’s conference with the theme, “Transforming Health Research into Biomedical Devices, Bridging the Gap for Equitable and Accessible Healthcare Delivery System in the Philippines,” showcased the latest advancements in biomedical engineering, innovative healthcare solutions, and health technologies. 

The FES device developed by USC’s computer engineering department gained recognition as it aims to help post-stroke patients regain hand function and improve their quality of life.  Using artificial intelligence and electric current, the system allows the muscles of paralyzed fingers to move again.

In September 2023, an earlier version of the device won 2nd place in the James Dyson Award national rounds.

With reporting from the Department of Computer Engineering