Marjan Monfared, a fellow of the 2026 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards, has developed the PrevenTherm Monitoring System to combat pressure injuries. The device uses AI and thermal imaging to identify tissue damage before it becomes life-threatening, addressing a condition that causes 60,000 deaths annually in U.S. hospitals, according to the American Hospital Association.
Technology for Early Detection
Pressure injuries, often called bedsores, occur when continuous pressure on soft tissue restricts blood flow, potentially leading to ischemia, tissue death, or bone infection. Monfared’s startup, Leaf Guardian, created the PrevenTherm system to provide continuous oversight for patients in intensive care units. The system functions by taking a baseline thermal scan of a patient’s body and remaining installed above the bed for ongoing monitoring.
Personal Inspiration and Development
The project is deeply personal for Monfared. Her grandmother, Mitan, died following complications from a bone infection caused by a pressure injury she developed while hospitalized for a stomach tumor in Iran. Monfared, who holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, sought to combine her technical background with her interest in medicine to prevent similar outcomes for others.
During her time at Northeastern, Monfared received a grant through the Srinivasan Family Awards, which allowed her to travel to India to test her device with hospital representatives and entrepreneurs. On September 24, 2026, she was recognized as one of eight fellows of the 2026 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards.
I believe AI, if it has been built and integrated well, can unlock a future that is more bright, safe and happy, truly, for everyone.
Highlighting Financial and Clinical Impact of Pressure Injuries
The clinical and financial burden of these injuries is significant. Beyond the 60,000 annual deaths cited by the American Hospital Association, the cost to treat a single pressure injury ranges from $2,000 to $150,000. While these injuries are most commonly associated with bedridden patients, they can also occur from the pressure of medical equipment like face masks or casts.
Ravi Ramamurti, director of Northeastern’s Center for Emerging Markets, highlighted the persistence required for such innovation. Even if they don’t succeed with the ventures or ideas we support, we think these are life-transforming investments,
Ramamurti said. Monfared continues to refine the tool, which also assists nurses with documentation, with the goal of providing what she describes as a Superman cape
for the healthcare industry.
Worth a look
Researchers at the University of Washington’s David Baker lab develop working molecular scissors
Researchers at the University of Washington Institute for Protein Design have used artificial intelligence to engineer synthetic proteases...
Young Adults’ Stroke Risk Nearly Doubles Over Three Decades
Medical data tracking Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky over nearly three decades reveals stroke rates among adults aged...
Continuous Glucose Monitors Benefit Type 2 Diabetes Patients Not on Insulin
Adults with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin spent approximately five additional hours daily within their...
Stanford Trials Ray Tracing-Guided LASIK in Nearsighted Patients
Stanford Eye Laser Center is conducting a prospective, randomized research trial comparing ray tracing-guided LASIK to wavefront-guided LASIK...