Getting a Patent and the Global Innovation Award

One of the most exciting parts of having a great team idea is also getting the chance to make our idea into a real product.  Everywhere we have gone,  several different people have come up to us to ask for one of our Epi-Watches.  We've even had people give us their contact information in case we are able to manufacture them.  It has been very interesting to find so many people with allergies everywhere we go.

The first step in the process was to get a patent.  We filed and received a provisional patent before our state championship in the beginning of December.  The LugNuts found it very exciting to be able to have their idea labeled, "patent pending."  I think when the patent went through they thought for the first time, "Hey, maybe we could actually make this product."  Then, over Christmas break, we heard about a new FLL opportunity.

This was the next step for us -- to enter our idea into the FLL Global Innovation Award contest.  The Global Innovation Award is sponsered by FLL, Xprize, and the US Patent Office.  This would be a great opportunity for us because the award is money, which would be very useful, and advice, which would be even more useful.  The award is now in the hand of the judges -- we'll see how we do.

Either way, we have enjoyed being able to share our idea with even more people and have gotten lots of positive feedback, a few suggestions and even a few copycats (it must be a good idea if other people are trying to copy us, but we are glad we filed for a patent already).  The LugNuts have learned a lot about robotics, engineering, allergies, and now business.  Thanks to all of our readers who have supported and voted for us.  This year we decided to focus on having fun -- and lots of fun we did have and still continue to have.

--The LugNuts

We don't serve Peanuts . . . just Peanut Butter.

At the beginning of the school year, we usually go and talk to the teachers and some of the staff at the school to let them know about our son's food allergies and how to keep him safe.  One year I will never forget:

We went to talk to someone in charge of the cafeteria to find out what they do for kids with severe food allergies.  They basically told me that they didn't do anything for those kids - not even a peanut free table at lunch.

This was quite a change from the school we had just come from so I was a little surprised.  But what finally got me is when the lady told me that I didn't need to worry about my son's peanut allergy because they didn't serve peanuts.

"We don't serve peanuts here," she was proud to report.  "Oh - you don't do peanut butter sandwiches?" I asked.  "Yes, we serve peanut butter -- but no peanuts," she replied.  I was a little taken back at first but then said,  "You Do know that there are peanuts in peanut butter - - don't you?"  "Well, yes,"  was all she could say.

I think this demonstrates the lack of understanding some people have about food allergies.  People with severe food allergies can't eat any of the food they are allergic to, they can't even touch that food, and often just being around that food can bother them.

This year, the LugNuts set out to increase allergy awareness -- especially at school.  The team members really learned a lot about the subject this year and felt like they could help other people understand it more too.  One of the things they did was create a video about food allergies.  They played this video during the news at school.  They also passed out flyers and talked to people that had questions.

Here is a copy of their allergy awareness video:
(Thanks to FAAN for a lot of the information they used)

It seems that a lot people know someone with food allergies, but a lot of people don't really understand that allergic kids have to completely avoid that food.  The LugNuts found out that the best thing that the kids can do to help at school is to wash their hands after they eat.  This sounds pretty simple, but it really does help.

If you want more information about food allergies or FAAN, here is a link:  FAAN

Finally -- a Clean Room.

As the LugNuts were coming up with ideas for their solution, they did a lot of research.  They talked to people with allergies, a doctor who treats those with allergies, and they researched a lot on the internet--both about allergies and epinephrine and about the EpiPen and how it worked.   But -- one of their favorite parts of their research was when they went on a field trip.

The LugNuts went on a field trip to the Tech Group.  They had already come up with the idea for some sort of watch that could give epinephrine, but they weren't exactly sure about how it would work.  The Tech Group manufactures medical devices, including EpiPens.  The LugNuts were able to see how they used robotics in the manufacturing process, how the EpiPen is made, and what kinds of parts make up the device.

During the field trip, the boys got to go inside a clean room.    This was one of their favorite parts of the day.  After all, the LugNuts are 6 boys and they aren't used to being in a clean room.  It took quite a bit of preparation to get ready -- they had to dress in full clean room gear.  First, they had to wear long pants and closed toe shoes.  (We do live in Arizona and it was still hot, so the boys normally would have worn shorts and sandals).  They weren't allowed to wear any make-up or glitter--but this wasn't a problem since they are boys.  Then they had to put on a hair cover and safety glasses.  Next came the hood, the long white jacket and the protective gloves.  Last, they had to cover their shoes with thin white booties.   Finally, they were dressed and ready to experience the clean room.











The people at the Tech Group were very nice and answered a lot of the boys questions.  The boys really started to get excited about their solution.  After the field trip, they understood a little bit more about the safety precautions and the components that were necessary for their Epi-Watch.  The LugNuts were full of ideas and ready to design.  


Now - if we could just get them to pick up their rooms . . .

LugNuts in the News.

One of the fun things that the LugNuts have been able to do is to share their idea with lots of people.  It seems that everywhere they go, they run into people with allergies who would like one of their Epi-Watches.  That is one of the main reasons why they would really like to make the Epi-Watch into a real product.

For part of their sharing, they have been able to talk to several reporters from newspapers, magazines and TV stations.  I think the LugNuts favorite interviews have been the ones that landed them on TV.   At first they were a little nervous, but now they are becoming pros at answering questions for the reporters.  Their most recent interview was with ABC 15 news.  They were able to get a great spot in the middle of the 6:00 nightly news.







They have been able to reach a lot of people and have gotten a lot of positive responses.  I don't think they will ever get tired of telling people about the Epi-Watch or how it works.  Pretty much everyone they talk to at least knows someone with allergies.  In fact, 1 in 25 people in the United States have food allergies -- that is a lot of people that this watch could help.

Here is a link to their ABC 15 news story if you would like to see what they have to say:

The LugNuts on ABC 15 News

It's the Eye of the Robot . . .

This season, the LugNuts made up a song to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger."  They have had a lot of fun with it and enjoyed singing it for everyone at the regional and state tournaments.
Now they would like to share it with you:

Its the eye of the Robot, 

its the thrill of the drive,  

Rising up from a bucket of Legos,

And the last NXT brick wins the trophy tonight,

And a robot will rise above all

in this battle.

Happy Heart Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from 

our Minions to yours!

  Thanks to all of you who have shifted 

gears and voted for the LugNuts!

Because You Never Know What Might Happen . . .

Where we live in Arizona, it is usually pretty warm.  We pretty much never have to scrape our windshields or shovel our walkways.  This is one of the good things about living here.  Sometimes, however, we do have a cold spell.  Not usually too cold, but it might reach the freezing point over night.  There will be warnings on the news and you will see a blanket pop up in a neighbor's yard protecting a plant or two.  This happens so rarely that most people don't really do anything special to prepare for the cold.

This week we have had an especially harsh cold spell.  Two nights in a row of below freezing temperatures.   Dropping the kids off at school this morning, it was only 28 degrees.  Some people prepared for the cold - others did not.  Many lawns were full of ice this morning because people didn't turn the sprinklers off.  Even the school left the sprinklers on and for the second day in a row, they had ice.

Not just a little bit of ice - big long icicles kind of ice.  One of the sprinklers must have broken because there was ice up in the trees and all over the gates.  The ice reached out all the way onto the sidewalk and a couple of feet into the street.   There was no where to walk on the sidewalk into school that wasn't coated in a nice layer of very slippery ice.  I don't think anyone expected to wake up to a school yard full of ice today.  But that is what happened.

That is the way allergies are.  They don't always behave the way you think.  They don't announce that they are going to cause you problems.  There is no schedule.  Sometimes you will go a long time and not have any problems.   But then -- something will happen, usually very unexpectedly.  This is why it is important to be prepared for allergies.  This is why you always need your medicine with you.

When you have an allergy attack, it can happen quite suddenly, or it can take awhile.  Sometimes you will think you are ok at first, but then you realize that you need help.  The best way to avoid problems is to have your medicine with you.  However, when you haven't needed it for awhile, it is easy to start forgetting to bring it everywhere you go.  

This is why the Epi-Watch is so ideal.  You don't have to remember to be prepared, you just have to wear your watch.  It is easy to always wear a watch.  With allergies you always need to be ready for the "just in case."  You just don't know what you might wake up to the next day.


The Epi-Watch makes it easy to be prepared for the unexpected -- because you never know what might happen.

Who is that Masked Man?

It's a bird...  It's a plane...  NO,  It's Epi-Man!   

Wait -- What?

If you've watched our news story on Fox 10, (there is a link to the right) then you've probably noticed that one of our team members sometimes wears a mask.  He isn't hiding from anyone, and he isn't eccentric -- he is our Epi-Man.

Epi-Man?  Epi-Man is a super-hero who comes to the rescue of those facing severe allergy attacks.  When other people panic and stand around wondering what to do, he whips out his handy epinephrine carrying watch and saves lives.

Epi-Man is the character the LugNuts came up with to help explain the importance of the Epi-Watch.   The Epi-Watch can be an important tool in helping people with allergies stay safe.  The tagline is that, "With an Epi-Watch, anyone can be Epi-Man."  Anyone can have the power to help save someone's life -- especially their own.

The Epi-Watch.

Once the LugNuts decided to focus on the Epi-Watch, they really started to come up with some good ideas.  Here are the basics of how the watch works:

At first glance, the Epi-Watch looks like any other digital watch.  But as you look closer you notice that the bands are just a little bit thicker than regular watch wands.  That is because this is where the medicine is stored.  There is enough epinephrine is each watch band for 1 shot, so the watch itself can give two shots.  The bands themselves are replaced when the medicine is used or expired.  The back of the watch bands have expiration dates on them so that you know when to get a new band from the pharmacy.    The back of the watch also contains emergency medical information, such as the specific allergy and a contact number.

The Epi-Watch can be used while it is still on the arm or after it has been taken off.  This can be helpful if the person who is having the allergy attack loses consciousness.  To use the Epi-Watch, you have to turn the watch face around about 45 degrees.  Then it will click, the screen will turn green, and a covered needle will pop out the top.  You then and press the screen and push the covered needle down into the outer thigh.  The cover to the needle is pressure sensitive and when you press down on it, it will send the needle through your clothes and into your leg, sending the medicine into your system.  You hold the watch in place for 10 seconds.  Then you lift the watch off your thigh and rub the injections site.

After the shot is administered, the screen will turn red for 10 min.  This is to prevent the watch from dispensing a second dose too soon.  If the first shot was not enough, or if you are pretty far from a hospital, then you can administer the second dose after the screen turns green again.  To do this, you just turn the screen 90 degrees in the other direction to pop out a different needle.  Then you follow the same procedure as the first time.  After the watch has been used, you need to take it to a pharmacy to get new needles put in.

The watch is pretty simple to use, includes several safety precautions and should prove to be very valuable in emergency allergy situations.

Why the Epi-Watch?

One of our team members has food allergies.  He has had them since he was a baby.  He has to be careful what he eats and what his friends eat around him.  Sometimes he has allergy attacks when someone who has touched certain foods then touch him.  It has been hard at times, but he deals with it.  One of the things he has to do is carry an EpiPen, just in case he has a bad reaction to something.  The problem is that it is easy to forget or misplace--

At school he keeps a couple EpiPens in the nurse's office.  When there is a field trip he has to take one with him.  When he plays sports or competes in robotics, he has to take an EpiPen with him.  He is a Boy Scout and goes camping frequently -- with his EpiPens.  The EpiPen doesn't really fit in his pocket - and he has been known to set it down somewhere and lose it.  If he loses it and he has an allergy problem, it could be deadly.  Especially when he is camping or somewhere far from help.

However, he does love wearing a watch.  He almost never takes it off.  He wears it so often that he forgets he even has it on.  When he does take it off, he feels like he is missing something.  So - he thought, why not find a way to combine the two.  Wouldn't it be nice if he could just wear his EpiPen like his watch -- and always have it with him.  He wouldn't have to worry about remembering to bring it.  He wouldn't have to find a place to keep it.  He wouldn't have to hunt all over looking for it after he set it down somewhere.  He could even forget about it and still have it.

And thus the Epi-Watch was born . . .

We are the LugNuts

Welcome to our new LugNuts blog!  We are starting this blog so you can see some of the interesting things that we have been working on.  We have learned a lot about food allergies this year and have been involved with food allergy awareness at our school.  We have designed a new way to carry epinephrine and are in the process of getting a patent.  Look for more information about us in future posts!