Team ARSS has been named the Grand Prize winner of the 16th Annual Bench to Bedside Competition, hosted by the University of Utah’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI), for its automated patient repositioning system designed to prevent pressure ulcers and reduce caregiver injury.
ARSS (Automated Repositioning Support System) replaces manual patient turning with a disposable glide sheet featuring inflatable chambers connected to a reusable programmable pump. The system delivers 30-degree lateral tilts on a customizable schedule, improving repositioning compliance to near 100% while significantly lowering pressure ulcer risk in immobile patients, particularly in skilled nursing facilities.
Bench to Bedside is a year-long, multidisciplinary program that brings together students from medicine, engineering, business, and design to address real-world clinical challenges. Participants receive access to prototyping resources, expert mentorship, and guidance on regulatory and commercialization pathways.
In addition to the $20,000 Grand Prize, $80,000 in milestone funding was awarded to 10 teams. Since 2012, the Bench to Bedside program, powered by the Crocker Catalyst Foundation and University of Utah Health, has distributed more than $1.5 million to advance student-led healthcare innovations.
For more information about Bench to Bedside and the Center for Medical Innovation, visit cmi.uofuhealth.org.
CMI Bench to Bedside 2026 Award Winners:
ARSS: ARSS automatically repositions immobile patients to prevent pressure ulcers. A disposable glide sheet with integrated inflatable chambers connects to a reusable programmable pump, delivering 30-degree lateral tilts on a customizable schedule. ARSS replaces manual patient turning effectively reducing staff injury risk, improving repositioning compliance to near 100%, and significantly lowering pressure ulcer rates in skilled nursing facilities. Team Members: Nathan Barfuss, Braden Barfuss, Blake Bryan, Jarren Barfuss (Brigham Young University). Grand Prize Award – $20,000.
FOCUS – Airavata Bioengineering LLC: FOCUS is a field-deployable UV-C sterilization device for surgical instruments in resource-constrained settings. Using ellipsoidal geometry and dual UV-C light sources, it delivers shadow-free irradiation in a 90-second cycle without water, plumbing, or heavy infrastructure. FOCUS is designed for military medics, rural clinics, humanitarian teams, and disaster response units. Team Members: Krishnam Goel, Aditya Karthik (University of Utah). Grand Prize Runner-Up – $10,000
FrostByte Defense Technologies: FrostByte is an autonomous, biometrically gated, emergency PPE device to prevent cold injuries in the world’s harshest environments. This technology is a paradigm shift from passive to active prevention for individuals who work, live or recreate in the cold. Our goal is simple; eliminate frostbite and cold injury for people everywhere. Team Members: Jakob Travis, Kylie Cole (University of Utah). Legacy Grand Prize – $15,000
Levator Ani Device: The Levator Ani Device (LeAD) is a simple, affordable, and clinically validated device that accurately measures the force of the pelvic floor muscles in women. One in three women will experience a pelvic floor disorder, caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles. These disorders are not caught early because no accessible, objective diagnostic tool exists. The LeAD is that tool. Team Members: Julia Denton, Dalton Daley, Nicholas Duval, Noah Boekweg (University of Utah). Legacy Grand Prize Runner-Up – $5,000
VeilScale: A scale system that removes visible weight metrics, automatically and securely transmits weight data to the EMR, and eliminates patient exposure to potentially distressing/irrelevant information. Weight data remains fully accessible to clinicians when clinically indicated. Team Members: Lauren Ricks (Westminster University), Brodie Taylor, Helena Vu (University of Utah), Jackson Stryker (Weber State University). Healthcare Access Solutions Award – $7,500
CathSecure: CathSecure is a novel neurosurgical device designed for CSF shunting in hydrocephalus. It uses a simple, calibrated locking mechanism to create a more secure and consistent catheter–valve connection, reducing failures from over- or under-tightening seen with traditional silk sutures. Its adaptable design also allows for easy modification and use in other surgical procedures requiring secure tubing connections. Team Members: Matthew Sommer, Derrick Wong (University of Utah). Patient Safety Award – $5,000
CAAR: TroponinPatch is a wearable microneedle patch designed to continuously monitor troponin levels in high-risk cardiac patients at home. By providing early alerts for worsening heart injury, it helps patients and clinicians respond sooner, with the goal of reducing delayed treatment, preventable complications, and hospital readmissions. Team Members: Xiaorui “Rachel” Dou, Cheng Hua Lee, Arlene Majers, Akshay Nagar (University of Utah). Best in Medicine – $5,000
FoldSight Bio: FoldSight Bio has developed a diagnostic tool for ATTR. Currently diagnosis is long, up to 15 years, and expensive, $500,000, and 53% of patients die before they are diagnosed. With a simple blood test in our laboratory, we can diagnose a patient with ATTR disease in 48 hours for $2000, and early enough for evade symptoms. Team Members: Locke Hansen (Rutgers University),
Jossue Matute (Brigham Young University). Best in Engineering – $5,000
Evoke NeuroMed: Evoke NeuroMed is developing a first-of-its-kind, non-invasive neural-haptic wristband to restore digit-specific touch for 500,000 Americans with partial-hand loss. Utilizing state-of-the-art current steering and multi-channel TENS, our wearable interface provides high-fidelity fingertip sensations. We bridge the sensory gap in prosthetics, restoring natural embodiment and functional utility without the need for invasive surgery. Team Members: Brayden VonHatten, Troy Tully (University of Utah). Best in Business – $5,000
CardioWear: A Cardiac Rhythm Monitor for Pediatric Patients with no Adhesive-Skin Contact. Team Members: Alex Madsen, Emmie Edman, Jashanpreet Kaur (University of Utah). Eccles & Marriott Libraries Award – $5,000
Elevāre: Elevāre is redefining pectus excavatum treatment with a breakthrough implant that gradually reshapes the chest over time. Unlike the current methods which use painful abrupt corrections, Elevāre delivers controlled, patient-specific adjustments that reduce reliance on pain management strategies like cryoablation and opioids. Elevāre is transforming patient outcomes and setting a new standard of care. Team Members: Heidi Hunter, Sanaa Sadiq, Kerrigan Denham, Rachel Revillo, (University of Utah). Consumer’s Choice Award – $2,500
