February is Black history month.
Black women have made many inventions and discoveries that have improved public health and advanced technology. Thanks to the vision, determination and dedication of black scientists and inventors, medical care providers can identify better, treat and even prevent potentially mortal health conditions.
Technological achievements are not limited to black women with advanced titles in medicine and science. The simple sanitary belt, an invention that made menstrual protection more accessible and comfortable for all women, arose from the hands of Mary Kenner, a black woman who recognized an unsatisfied need and worked to find a solution.
It is a common story for many of the black health pioneers that are recognized this month: they identified a gap in the care of women and people of color, and aimed to solve it. These are just some of their health innovations.
1. Laserphaco probe – Patricia Bath, MD
Invented by Patricia Bath, MDThis device and technique revolutionized cataract surgery by eliminating the lens, producing the incision and aspiring the fragments.
As an ocular clinic intern at Harlem Hospital and Columbia University, Bath noticed that more patients in Harlem, a majority black community, were blind or visual disabilities than patients in Columbia. That led her to carry out a study that found that blindness among black patients was twice the white patients, and concluded that disparity was due to the lack of access to ophthalmic care.
His work in the creation of the field of community ophthalmology increased the detection of unattended populations, a practice that now prevails throughout the world and led to an earlier treatment for vision -related problems. As a laser scientist and inventor, his interest, experience and research on cataracts led him to his invention of a new device and method to eliminate cataracts: the Laserphaco probe.
Bath was the first black woman to receive a medical patent and the first black woman to complete an ophthalmology residence at New York University. It was included posthumously in the Hall of Fame of National Inventors in 2021.
2. MRNA-1273-Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire technology, Ph.D.
When Covid-19 became a worldwide pandemic in 2020, the world’s main researchers began working to create a virus vaccine. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire, Ph.D. He led the team of the National Health Institute (NIH) that developed this technology, which was used to create Covid vaccines.
Today, she is an assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard Thard Public School of Public Health and the Howard Hughes Freeman Hrabowski Scholar Medical Institute.
3. Herpes Zoster virus (Herpes Zóster) – Evelyn Carmon Nicol
Immunologist and microbiologist Evelyn Carmon Nicol He was the first person to isolate the Varicella-JoSter virus, which causes chickenpox and tiles, in tissue cultivation. It was also one of the first black women to receive a patent for molecular biology.
Other achievements included helping with the development of the polyomyelitis vaccine by cultivating the virus in the CLEE cells; Development test for Toxoplasma gondiithe parasite that causes toxoplasmosis; and develop some of the first commercial test kits for HIV.
4. Adjustable Sanitary Belt – Mary Kenner
Kenner came from an inventor family and grew playing with everyday articles to find effective solutions. Although Kenner began the university at the University of Howard, he retired for financial reasons and became a florist. Kenner still used his free time to work in inventions and received five patents, including the sanitary belt in 1957.
Before developing the maximum adhesive pads, almost all women wore sanitary belts to keep pads in their inner place. At that time, the sanitary belt represented the freedom of rags or ball towels that often changed and did not remain in place, which caused stains of clothing, discomfort and shame. Kenner said a company expressed interest in marketing his idea, but retreated when they knew it was black.
In 1976, Kenner also patented a walker with a tray and fixed pocket, which he created after his sister was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
5. Detection of falciform cells of newborns – Marilyn Hughes Gaston, MD
Marilyn Hughes Gaston, MD He published a study that led to a national detection program to evaluate newborns by falciform cell diseases, allowing them to receive immediate treatment.
Before publishing his study in 1986 while working in the National Health Institutes, Gaston worked for years as a pediatrician in Cincinnati. But years before, as an intern at the General Hospital of Philadelphia, he admitted a baby with a swollen hand. Unable to determine why the baby’s hand was swollen, Gaston’s supervisor resident suggested to look at blood analysis in search of evidence of falciform cell disease, which the baby had.
That incident caused Gaston to dedicate his life to studying the disease of falciform cells in children and pressing for routine detection. He discovered that early treatment could help prevent complications of falciform cell disease, saving the lives of innumerable children. The detection of newborn falciform cell diseases is now a practice of routine public health service.
6. Illusion transmitter – Valerie Thomas
Invented by Valerie ThomasThis device uses concave mirrors to create images of optical illusion. Later, NASA used Thomas technology in its satellite technology. Thomas grew by dreaming of working with electronics, but did not have the opportunity until he specialized in Physics in Morgan State College. In his last year, after registering to have the opportunity to talk to the work recruiters, he heard of a NASA representative who wanted to hire her after graduation.
In the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, Thomas worked on numerous projects and became an expert with computer technology. She contributed to Landsat image processing software systems, which deliver images of the land surface. He later invented and patented the illusion transmitter, a type of 3D screen technology used in surgery.
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