CEO MONTHLY / CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023 70 CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 10 2023 15 Bayan Alturkestani’s Innovative Approach to Traumatic Brain Injuries A concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), results in symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, ringing in the ears, and visual disturbances like seeing stars. In contrast to a severe concussion, known as traumatic brain injury (TBI), mTBIs are unlikely to result in long term health consequences. However, their repeated occurrence can have potentially debilitating repercussions, leading to conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a pronounced deterioration of the brain. According to the CDC, sports-related injuries in the U.S. cause more than 4 million concussions every year. Despite this, very few concussed athletes are clinically diagnosed, and many continue to participate in the sport even with a concussion. Whilst this may partially be caused by the warrior-like approach many athletes take to competitive play, part of the problem is certainly the slow and costly nature of diagnosis. It can take more than four hours in the emergency room to check for a potential concussion with a lab-based blood test, and the whole process can cost more than $800 in total. In 2019, Bayan Alturkestani set out to address this issue when she founded Conan MedTech Corp. with plans to create the Real-time Concussion Detector, a pioneering solution that can be used to diagnose concussions easily, quickly, and non-invasively. Whilst not on the market yet, her creation could be available as early as next year. With the use of Conan’s Real-time Concussion Detector, it could take as little as 15 minutes to obtain results. The best part is that there will be no need to visit the emergency room; Conan’s test can be used both at home and on the sidelines during sports games, meaning players won’t have to go anywhere to get assessed. Conan’s test is also noninvasive, with no need to expose the subject to radiation or draw their blood. It works similarly to some COVID-19 tests; saliva is collected on a swab and deposited in a simple detection device. In less than half an hour, it will be possible to view the results in a user-friendly app. Furthermore, Conan’s Realtime Concussion Detector will not only be quicker and more convenient but also significantly cheaper than the market’s current options. Many concussion detection technologies are highly expensive, but Conan’s solution will only cost 12% of the average cost on the market. Bayan’s journey with MedTech began when she moved to Pennsylvania with her family and made the decision to join Temple University’s bioengineering programme. As a senior, she assisted with concussion drug research in a biomechanics lab, where she noticed the need for much quicker diagnosis of concussions. She soon began thinking about the possibility of creating a solution for real-time concussion detection. The following summer, she began working on her idea when she participated in the Temple Fox School of Business accelerator programme, having been awarded a Lori Hermelin Bush Seed Fund grant for female entrepreneurs. Four years ago, while studying for her master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Cornell University, Bayan founded Conan MedTech Corp. For the concept she has developed, she won first place at an entrepreneurship competition sponsored by the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation in 2020. A year later, in 2021, she ranked in the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders in the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare. Currently, Bayan’s prototype is awaiting FDA approval, but she hopes to soon begin piloting her Real-time Concussion Detector at public school districts and youth sports organisations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Eventually, she plans to target hospital emergency rooms and the U.S. military. As a result of her exceptional innovation, Bayan Alturkestani has been awarded Brain Injury MedTech CEO of the Year, New York, in the CEO of the Year Awards 2023. With ambitious plans, Bayan looks towards a bright future, and we look forward to seeing what she goes on to accomplish in the years to come. Contact: Bayan Alturkestani Company: Conan MedTech Corp. Web Address: www.conanmedtech.com/ Aug23493 Since 2019, Conan MedTech Corp. has been revolutionising the mild traumatic brain injury diagnosis market with a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test for concussions that can be performed anywhere by sports doctors and athletic trainers. The company was established by Bayan Alturkestani, Founder, CEO, and R&D Engineer, who has been named Brain Injury MedTech CEO of the Year, New York, in the CEO of the Year Awards 2023.
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