The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
A revolutionary development in the field of oral health has been awarded a United States patent, thanks to the ingenuity of Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Collaboration) at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University. Her invention, an automated oral biopsy device, promises to transform the process of diagnosing oral diseases, especially oral cancer.
The pen-like device, designed with user-friendly features, streamlines the biopsy procedure, eliminating the need for bulky equipment. It incorporates tele-screening and fiber-optic light, offering an efficient and precise way to perform biopsies. According to Prof. (Dr.) Mohanty, “Biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, and unskilled biopsy often leads to erroneous and delayed diagnosis, resulting in life-threatening conditions.”
Prof. (Dr.) Mohanty, formerly the Dean of SOA’s Institute of Dental Sciences, had initially filed for patents in India in 2018. The Indian patents were granted in 2023 and 2024, with a design patent secured in 2019. In late 2019, she applied for the U.S. patent, which was granted in early February 2025. “I’m thrilled with the U.S. patent approval. It’s a testament to the potential of this device in improving patient outcomes,” she said.
Her innovation was recognized globally when it won the Global Outreach Dental Innovation Award in 2021. Additionally, the Science and Technology Department of the Odisha government selected it for display at the prestigious Global Bio India 2024 in New Delhi.
Prof. (Dr.) Mohanty expressed her gratitude to SOA’s robust Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell, led by Prof. Sushant Kamilla, for their support in securing the patent. She also thanked SOA Founder President Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak and Prof. Damodar Acharya, Chairman of the SOA Advisory Board, for their encouragement throughout the process.
The research behind the innovation was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, which provided funding for prototype development. Further assistance was provided by Start-up Odisha for the device’s need-based approval.
This breakthrough device holds immense promise for improving the early diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, especially oral cancer. By making biopsies more accessible and efficient, it helps reduce the burden of oral diseases and provides timely expert diagnoses for better patient outcomes.
