Hanyang University ERICA Industrial Design students have earned global recognition for their medical innovation. A team of four seniorsβShin Dong-min, Joo Sung-min, Park Yeon-woo, and Son Hye-miβdeveloped an IV Catheter Fixation Device named ‘Fixwing,’ which secured a spot in the Global Top 20 of the prestigious James Dyson Award 2026.
Innovative Solution for Emergency Medical Environments
According to Hanyang University, Fixwing advanced to the international judging round after placing in the top 3 for South Korea last September. It stands out as the only South Korean entry to make the final global top 20 list. The project originated from the ERICA Design College’s ‘Design Engineering Studio’ course, where students observed emergency treatment environments inside moving ambulances.
Functional Design and User-Centered Development
Through interviews with paramedics, the student team identified the common challenge of securing intravenous catheters while dealing with the vibrations of a moving vehicle. Fixwing addresses this by allowing paramedics to secure IV catheters without the hassle of separate medical tapes. The design utilizes the force generated when removing the stylet to automatically peel back the protective seal of the adhesive backing, exposing the sticky surface instantly. Furthermore, an origami structure ensures the adhesive stays neatly folded until deployment.
The student creators utilized Rhino-based 3D modeling and 3D printing to produce over 50 mockups and prototypes. They continuously refined the tape size, layout, and handle structure based on feedback from actual medical professionals. The team is currently pursuing domestic and international patents and discussing potential joint development with medical device manufacturers, aiming to bring Fixwing into real-world clinical use.
