Duke Engineering Team Earns National Recognition for Commercial-Ready Medical Device

Meet Blue Skull Group, LLC — Lindsay Chetkof, Saagar Arya, Anna Brusoe, and Amanda Li — four undergraduate Duke University Pratt School of Engineering students who turned a classroom problem into a commercialization-ready medical device.

This spring, Blue Skull Group, LLC was accepted to both the Call for Papers and the Student Design Showcase at the Design of Medical Devices Conference (DMD 2026) at the University of Minnesota, a peer-reviewed validation of their work and a platform to connect with industry leaders from across the country.

The team described their experience: “Attending DMD has provided us with the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, get insightful feedback on our system, and continue to push for commercialization of the device.”

With support and mentorship from their EGR101 and EGR 102 courses and the Christensen Center’s PhD Accelerator, and funding support from the Christensen Center’s GoBIG Grant, Blue Skull Group developed a digital, per-pin force sensing system that gives surgeons accurate, real-time data during neurosurgeries.

What started as a class project now has a pitch deck that’s been used in active licensing discussions with medical device manufacturers, OEMs, and venture capital firms.

“The Christensen Center has provided invaluable support in pushing our device from class project to commercial product,” the team shared. “The Center has streamlined the process from project to product, ensuring we were never left without the resources, support, or opportunities we needed to take the next steps forward.”

Congratulations to Lindsay Chetkof, Saagar Arya, Anna Brusoe, and Amanda Li! We can’t wait to see where Blue Skull Group, LLC goes next.