Steve Xu

Newborns, especially those born prematurely, often need intensive medical monitoring. That usually means sticking electrodes and sensors to the baby and connecting them via long wires to base units fixed to the wall. Steve Xu, 34, has created soft, flexible, skin-safe patches that can monitor a baby’s vital signs wirelessly. Not only does Xu’s technology reduce skin injuries from the adhesives—which can be life-­threatening for newborns—but it removes the wires and enables skin-to-skin contact with the parents. “While this technology is useful across the entire continuum of care from cardiology to remote patient monitoring, we’re focused on premature neonates,” he says.