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OGYAKARTA: Three Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University (UMY) students have invented a device that can detect blood vessels in infants and children of up to 2-years-old and reduce the risk of inaccurate needle insertion, which can damage veins.

'€œInfant blood vessels are very fragile and they can be damaged by the incorrect insertion of a syringe,'€ said Ade Pajar Pirdianto of UMY'€™s School of Electrical Engineering, one of the three students who invented the device.

The other two students are Muholidin and Aan Kurniawan.

'€œThe device can help medical workers at hospitals and community health centers (Puskesmas) when treating sick babies,'€ Ade said.

Muholidin said the device was relatively simple to operate.

'€œJust put the baby'€™s hand on the detection device and the veins can be clearly seen,'€ he said.

The veins can be clearly seen, Muholidin said, because the device uses 4-pin light-emitting diodes (LED) that produce stronger rays compared to other types of LEDs.

He said devices with such technology were used at a number of major hospitals. Yet, with their invention, he added, Puskesmas and health facilities in remote areas could use it.

'€œThe device is simple and easy to carry,'€ Muholidin said.

He expressed hope that with support from the government and relevant institutions, the device would be of great help in remote areas to reduce the incidence of vein damage due to inaccurate syringe insertions at health centers.

The students plan to compete with the devices in the National Electrotechnics Invention Competition (LCEN) in Surabaya.