Written in Partnership with Amir Khan
Inventors, innovators, scientists, and researchers play a primary role in shaping any field or discipline by offering expert insights and developing or discovering new devices, approaches, and strategies. Many individuals use innovation and invention interchangeably without realizing the difference between the concepts and phenomena. Inventions refer to creating something new, while innovation involves improving an existing idea, concept, device, or approach. Invention and innovation are complementary despite the subtle differences and improve existing methods in any field. Inventing something new and extraordinary requires a particular set of skills and expertise with substantial field experience because the inventor has to create a new device or process that complements a field.
The discoveries and inventions in neurology and neuroscience enabled scientists and field experts to understand how the neurological and sensory systems work. The progress also allowed many people to invent new devices and methods for evaluating and improving neurological activity. Research trends in recent years shifted to improving neurological activity and preventing or treating neurological disorders through various approaches and techniques. Many scientists and field experts are devising new methods and devices to improve neurological functioning among people. Patricia Derrick is one such individual leading the way in neurological progress and making a difference by introducing a novel method for improving neurological and brain functioning.
Patricia Derrick is the inventor of the Brainpaths medical devices and president of Braipaths n LLC. Brainpaths medical devices stimulate the brain’s sensory cortex by constantly engaging and utilizing the tactile sensory function. The device improves cognitive and brain functioning by firing and wiring neurons after activating over 3,000 mechanoreceptors under the ten fingers for tracing unique patterns on the circular plastic apparatus. Derrick discovered the mechanism for the device by observing children playing in language-based playgrounds in Montessori Schools. The children showed significant attention while tracing the pathways with their fingertips, illustrating their ability to recognize and remember the patterns. The John Hopkins Krieger Brain Institute research corroborated Derrick’s discovery, and she eventually developed the device and got patent approval for the neurological medical device.
Invention and innovation require unique skills and experience and the ability to recognize the gaps or unmet needs within a particular industry. Patricia Derrick identified the need for a medical device that offers daily cognitive exercise that is relaxing and entertaining for children and adults to improve neurological functioning. She recognized the need for a device that could potentially prevent and delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Derrick invented the Brainpaths device as a non-powered apparatus to rewire the brain through fingertip tracing on a plastic textured device for activating and engaging over 3,000 mechanoreceptors under each fingertip. Patricia Derrick was a keen learner and observer from an early age enabling her to skip grades multiple times and graduate from high school at 16. She later graduated with a bachelor’s degree earlier than others and signed a teaching contract before graduating. Derrick completed her Master’s degree in education from the University of Utah while teaching in public schools and at the Metropolitan College in Denver, CO.
Patricia Derrick taught in public schools for over ten years before working as a general contractor and real estate broker. She built, owned, and operated six SpringStone Montessori Schools in Nevada and New Mexico. Derrick also wrote children’s books with integrated songs that sing the text to young readers, enabling them to improve their reading skills. She created Animalations Publishing in 2005 to promote her innovation of integrating songs into books that sing and read the text to readers. Derrick published ten books under the auspices of Animalations Publishing while establishing Brainpaths LLC in 2006. She invented the Brainpaths device as a means of improving neurological health and enabling people to stimulate the sensory cortex in their brains to improve memory and cognition.
The Brainpaths neurological device is a non-powered plastic apparatus that enables users to trace a pattern using fingertips to fire and wire thousands of neurons simultaneously. Derrick used her inventive personality to create a device based on brain plasticity to improve cognitive functioning. Her intuitive mind also motivated Derrick to discover the flesh–shifting phenomenon in Santa Fe, New Mexico, due to the cross-contamination of multiple species. She also invented the soon-to-be available Rainwaters flavored bottled water while incorporating a formula for combating the symptoms and effects of flesh-shifting among people. Patricia Derrick is leading the way and making a difference in invention and innovation by developing new ideas and devices like the Brainpaths medical device that can significantly improve people’s cognitive functioning by engaging and stimulating the sensory cortex.
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