Innovative Minds: Annie Katz

Leffell School | 8th grade | 14 years old

Automated Ultrasound Hamstring Lesion Detection & Diagnosis

About the Idea

Meet Annie. Annie created an affordable in-home ultrasound device and detection programming that can identify hamstring lesions.

Why did you enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

I created my project specifically for the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. I saw a very glaring issue across all sports that impacts anyone from school sports to major league baseball players. I had been noodling around with how to fix this issue since it happened to me, and the 3M Young Scientist Challenge was the perfect reason for me to create a prototype of my idea. I pushed myself more than I’ve ever done before because the possibility of potentially working with a mentor from 3M would be an opportunity of a lifetime.

What is your favorite invention of the last 100 years, and why?

The COVID vaccine is the first invention that comes to mind, as that was a very dark period globally, and the vaccine allowed us to be social humans again. Since I can remember, I had been taking vaccines, but I never appreciated how much they protect us. These were scientists who solved a major issue and I hope to have these kind of monumental impacts on the world. If I had to choose a second it would be the internet, without which I would never have learnt to code or solder or do any of the things that allow me to piece my inventions together.

In 15 years I hope to be...

A biomechanical engineer and sports medicine MD. I am an athlete and participate in many sports allowing me to see all the ways firsthand that I can improve this area of medicine to support the millions of people worldwide who participate in organized and recreational sports.