TN teen receives President's award for a device that detects silent heart attack

In a proud moment for Tamil Nadu, 15-year-old M Akash won the prestigious gold medal, presented by the President of India for developing a device that can detect a silent heart attack. A class 10 student, Akash was awarded the medal twice this year- once by former President Pranab Mukherjee and once by the current president Ram Nath Kovind.

His innovative work has been selected for its life-saving characteristic of detecting early signs of heart attack or silent attacks that lead to lakhs of death every year.

Akash said, "I decided to do something after losing my grandfather who died when I was in class 8. He died because of a silent heart attack; his death prompted me to develop the life saving device for others."He added that he visited libraries and conferences to gain more knowledge on his topic of choice. He also met experts in the field who helped him device the machine. 

According to a report by the Deccan Chronicle, the device designed by him looks like a skin patch that if attacked on the wrist or at the back of the ear can warn in advance of an impending heart attack. Akash said, "The skin patch attached to the wrist or behind the ear will release a small amount of electrical impulse to attract the negatively charged proteins released by the heart as a sign of a heart attack. If the quantity of this protein is more, the person should  immediately take medical help."

Meanwhile, lauding his creativity, CM Palaniswami wished him best for all his future endeavours in bringing the state and the nation many more such laurels.

• tamil nadu
• south
• president's award