Using Invention to Increase Mindfulness
(Pictured above: Anuki Mudalige at the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals. Photo courtesy of The Henry Ford.)
An ancient mindfulness technique inspired this high schooler to invent a modern stress-reducing technology.
The practice of Anapanasati is considered one of the oldest forms of meditation in the world. It’s a breathing technique that tenth grader Anuki Mudalige saw her grandparents practicing while visiting them in Sri Lanka.
As she observed their daily meditation practice, it sparked an interest in mindfulness and its power to reduce stress in our everyday lives. After returning to her high school in Lewis Center, Ohio, Anuki began to develop a wearable AI-powered device inspired by the Buddhist philosophy for relaxation.
She called it NeuroBreath, and her invention won four awards at the 2025 RTX U.S. Nationals for Invention Convention Worldwide run by The Henry Ford — including The Lemelson Foundation’s Invention Award for Societal Benefit.
We recently spoke to Anuki about her invention journey, and how she was inspired to combine the ancient practice of mindfulness with AI-powered technology to help people relax.
When did you first become interested in inventing?
I’ve always enjoyed inventing, even if it was something small. When I was little, I used a screwdriver to take things apart and to build them again, just to see how they worked.
My real start with invention came in fourth grade, when I joined the Invention Convention program. That first experience showed me that inventing isn’t just about creating a device — it’s about identifying problems in your own life, creating a solution, and then sharing your idea with others in a way they can understand. Presenting my project to judges and explaining why it mattered gave me a whole new perspective on what innovation really is.
Your early inventions focused on energy efficiency. Can you describe them?
My first invention was SunXTube, which was a system designed to capture sunlight from outside and direct it into the home. Unlike traditional skylights, SunXTube could provide natural light not only to upstairs rooms, but also to darker spaces like basements. This reduced the need for artificial lighting and saved electricity.
My second invention was the Smart iVent System, which allowed users to place smart vent covers anywhere in their house and control them digitally through a mobile app. By opening and closing vents remotely, homeowners could manage airflow more efficiently, which reduced wasted energy for heating and cooling.
The third invention, which I created the year before NeuroBreath, was called HeatWise. HeatWise was a hybrid design that combined features of both tank and tankless water heaters. The main goal was to reduce energy costs by combining the efficiency and quick heating of a tankless water heater while also keeping the storage capacity of a traditional tank.
NeuroBreath is very different from your other inventions. What was your motivation?
After seeing my grandparents practicing mindfulness breathing and meditation in Sri Lanka, I tried it out myself, and I felt the relaxing effect. It truly does reduce stress. Most people there practice this form of mindfulness meditation on a daily basis. I thought I could use this back home because stress is a huge problem — it affects people of all ages.
Can you explain some of the technology you used in NeuroBreath?
NeuroBreath has three major components: the breathing device, the EEG headset, and the mobile app.
This breathing device is worn around the stomach and uses a stretch sensor to detect the expansion and contraction of the stomach during breathing. The sensor is connected to a microcontroller, which can track the different phases of breathing, such as inhaling, holding, and exhaling. Other than just detecting breaths, the microcontroller also classifies mindfulness breathing techniques. This allows the device to give personalized feedback for each user.
Since mindfulness is not only about breathing but also about mental focus, I also integrated an EEG headset to measure brain activity. The EEG can detect brainwaves that are linked to deep meditation and attention. When combined with the breathing data, the EEG gives us a better understanding of both mind and body during mindfulness practice. All of the data from the breathing device and EEG is sent to a mobile app, which uses this data to give real-time feedback, track progress, and even includes gamification features like levels and awards.
Why was gamification important to Neurobreath?
Even though mindfulness is super effective, most people don’t know how to practice it correctly, or they aren’t motivated to stay consistent. Adding gamification to NeuroBreath makes mindfulness more engaging, motivates people to stay consistent, and helps them actually build a habit of mindfulness practice. It’s kind of like Duolingo for language learning: it keeps you coming back to practice.
Could you share some of the breathing techniques?
One effective breathing technique is 4-7-8 breathing. It’s where you inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds. A lot of research shows it’s really effective, but it’s not something you just pick up right away; it takes practice. The best way to start is to find a rhythm that feels comfortable for you, maybe experiment a little. Once you get used to it, you can work your way up to the full 4-7-8 pattern.
How did you incorporate AI into your device?
AI is pretty important for NeuroBreath. There are two main AI components. The first one is the neural network integrated into the breathing device, which classifies different breathing patterns, and allows it to detect and recognize breathing techniques. The second one is the AI Guru, a chatbot in the mobile app that lets users talk to it and get advice on mindfulness.
What’s next for NeuroBreath?
This year, I won a patent application award from Cantor Colburn at the 2025 RTX Invention Convention Nationals. I’ve never had the chance to pursue a patent before, so I’m really excited to begin that process with NeuroBreath and eventually secure a full patent.
Looking ahead, I would love to work with a company or organization to commercialize and distribute NeuroBreath so it can reach people all over the world. Beyond that, my goal is to keep improving its technology — things like making it more accurate, affordable, and accessible, so that it can have the biggest possible impact on stress and mental health.
What has participating in the Invention Convention taught you?
I was really shy in elementary school, and I think the reason why I’m a lot more confident now is probably because of the Invention Convention. This is because you’re not only presenting to judges and in front of people, but they’re giving you feedback and guiding you to improve. Overall, I think that is one of the biggest reasons why I can communicate much more clearly and confidently today.
Who have your mentors been throughout your invention journey?
My parents have been very supportive. Another key mentor was a Buddhist monk, who taught me a lot about mindfulness practice. He thought it was a cool idea to take a modern approach to this practice that has been done for thousands of years, pulling the science and technology part into it to make people today want to use it.
Do you have plans yet for your next invention?
Right now, I’m working on a device called Sensora to help deaf and deafblind individuals detect emergency sounds through an affordable, wearable device. It was inspired by my cousin in Sri Lanka who was born deaf. During my visit, I noticed her missing phone calls multiple times because she can’t hear them. I started thinking about how she could miss not only phone calls, but also things like doorbells, fire alarms, and more.
I then started researching and found that many deaf individuals live in poverty, without any access to resources such as emergency alert systems. What I want to do with Sensora is create an affordable yet effective device that gives people equal access to safety, no matter their income.
What’s your advice for students interested in pursuing invention?
Just try to start with something small and then work towards it. There are so many problems in the world that need solutions, and you don’t need to have a perfect idea at the beginning. You just need to notice a small problem in your own life, and then think: “How can I help fix this?”
From there, take one step at a time, try different things out, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every failure teaches you something, and even the smallest ideas can grow into something that makes a real difference.
