A common emergency room issue—objects stuck in children’s ears—is driving innovation through the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补’s (MIND) Hawaiʻi competition.
(JABSOM) pediatric emergency physician Travis Hong said the problem is more frequent than many expect.
“You’d be surprised how often kids come in with things stuck in their ears—beads, food, small toy parts,” Hong said. “I see these cases at least every couple of weeks, if not more.”
Removing those objects safely can be challenging and sometimes requires improvisation.
“A lot of ER care involves figuring out what works in the moment,” Hong said. “In some cases, we use a small amount of medical-grade adhesive on a cotton swab to try to extract the object—but it requires precision, and the child has to stay very still.”
Student-driven solution
That challenge inspired this year’s winning team in the MIND Hawaiʻi competition.
“We wanted to create something safer, more controlled and designed specifically for this problem,” said Aileen Ferrer, a JABSOM student and leader of the StickieEars team.
The team developed a hybrid suction-adhesive device to improve safety and control during removal.
“It’s a common issue, but there isn’t a standardized tool,” Ferrer said. “We saw an opportunity to improve that.”
Developing the prototype required collaboration across disciplines—central to MIND’s mission. The annual competition brings together students from across campus, including JABSOM, the , the and the , to tackle real-world healthcare challenges.
Working with students and mentors from different backgrounds changed how we approached the problem.
—Aileen Ferrer
“Working with students and mentors from different backgrounds changed how we approached the problem,” Ferrer said. “That collaboration was one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”
“Students are addressing real clinical needs, and the level of innovation in these projects is exciting to see,” said faculty advisor Peter Di Rocco, clinical assistant professor at JABSOM.
Ferrer hopes StickieEars will eventually reach clinical use.
“I think this could have a real impact in everyday practice and make a difference for patients,” she said.
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