For the 2026 GT MedTech Hackathon, my team and I designed and prototyped an automated smart tourniquet to reduce complications like nerve damage and make application of the tourniquet easier and faster. To automate the tourniquet, we used a microcontroller to tighten the tourniquet by controlling a servo. It stops tightening when a pressure threshold is reached as determined by a force sensor placed inside the tourniquet. We also added a dot-matrix display that shows the time in minutes the pressure threshold has been met for, giving medical professionals the information they need to take over after first-aid. See our final presentation by clicking on the link on the left sidebar.

My Contributions

  • Modeled and manufactured a ratchet mechanism to maintain tourniquet tension during power loss, enabling longer use
  • Designed and 3D-printed spool and tourniquet platform for a small footprint and the ability to bear high tension
  • Soldered electronics onto protoboard for a more compact and visually appealing prototype