WSU Student Pioneers Innovative Medical Testing Method

When a third-party ostomy company wanted to research alternative methods of testing prototype catheters — methods that didn’t involve animals or humans — WSU computer science student Tina Van Riper applied to work on the project. Using MRI images, Van Riper created 3-D computer models of the gastrointestinal region of the human body. She found that, by inserting the catheter design into the computer program, companies could detect design malfunctions and reduce the need for live animal or human test subjects.

For her work, Van Riper received the 2014 Academic Excellence Award from the Women Tech Council.