CNA student and inventor helping to save lives
In life-or-death situations, every second counts. Stabilizing seriously injured people sooner saves lives, and that’s exactly what makes Allie Lynch’s invention so remarkable.
Lynch is a Mechanical Engineering Technology (Manufacturing) student at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Ridge Road campus, and the inventor of Lickety Splint.
“Lickety Splint is a one-piece wrappable splint that you can apply yourself,” Lynch said, noting that compared to the three most used emergency splints on the market, her invention can be applied in a fraction of the time. “It’s 78.6 to 90 percent more efficient in application in comparison to those.”
Lickety Splint is produced by RAR Innovations, a woman-owned and operated innovative tech company that Lynch runs with two of her classmates and friends, Rachel Hedges and Rona Cuico. The company and its invention are profiled in Season 2 of the Best in the Biz podcast.
Lynch made great use of CNA’s Entrepreneurship Hub when developing the product.
“The whole goal of the Entrepreneurship Hub is that we are the main point of contact for student, alumni, faculty, and staff interested in entrepreneurship,” explained Ian MacDonald, Business Development Officer – Entrepreneurship and host of Best in the Biz. “Anything from wanting to explore a business idea, to actually starting and growing a business, reach out to us and we can help.”
The hub offers a wide variety of services and supports, including mentorship, business information, and workshops. Lynch also made great use of tools at CNA’s Office of Applied Research and Innovation, especially the 3D printers and advanced manufacturing technology, but most of all she was happy to have the support of staff.
“They were really great,” she said, adding their feedback helped in developing two prototypes, one for the arm and a larger one for the leg.
Lickety Splint is exactly the type of product Lynch found herself needing during her previous career.
“Well, I was a nurse for 10 years before going back to school in my thirties,” she said. “I actually came up with Lickety Splint while I was working. I wanted one.”
Lynch said her invention could make all the difference not just for nurses in hospital settings, but also for military medics, sports teams, and anyone else who needs to provide first aid quickly.
Learn more about Lynch’s invention, how the three entrepreneurs behind RAR Innovations are bringing it to market, and the role college community support has played in Season 2, Episode 4 of CNA’s Entrepreneurship Podcast – Best In The Biz.
For more information about CNA’s Entrepreneurship Hub, visit CNA – Entrepreneurship Hub.
