May 15, 2020
About 10 years ago, a stroke robbed Dr. John Shank of the ability to speak all but
a few words. A group of Trine University students worked this year on an app to give
him his voice back.
Biomedical engineering students Michael Scoffin, Joe LeSueur and Marisa Robinett, all seniors, developed the SHANK Week Communication App as part of their senior design project. They also entered the app in the university’s annual Innovation Challenge competition, winning second place and the People’s Choice Award for the technology portion of the college and community division.
Shank’s stroke affected the Broca’s area of the brain, which is linked to speech production, but left intact the visual cortex and Wernicke’s area, which is linked to speech comprehension. Thus, he is able to read and understand others but unable to verbalize a response.
The students coded the app for iOS, pairing emojis with common phrases. The app allows the iPhone to vocalize complex phrases as Shank uses the emojis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke each year, with 87% of those being ischemic strokes like Shank suffered. The group said the app also could help students who have learning disabilities related to communication.
The students hope in the future to develop versions for other mobile platforms, to add functionality while patients use the phone for the call, and to add the ability to output to a text message as opposed to audio.
Photo: From left, biomedical engineering seniors Joe LeSueur, Michael Scoffin and Marisa Robinett won second place in the 2020 Innovation Challenge for the SHANK Week Communication App.
Area residents interested in launching or advancing their nursing career can learn more about Trine University’s associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs during a Friday, Jan. 16, event at Cameron Health.
Trine University’s Thunder Therapy Clinic, which provides pro-bono rehabilitation services to those in the Fort Wayne area with limited means, will offer occupational therapy beginning in January.
Trine University’s first Associate of Science and Master of Science in nursing graduates, along with physician assistant and surgical technology graduates, received a welcome to the healthcare field from the leader of Cameron Health, herself a longtime nurse, during the university’s fall Commencement on Dec. 12.