Margo Klar of the Yale School of Public Health is developing the first ceramic umbilical cord cutting device. The “ceramic umbilical cord finger scissors” will be simple and sharp, and the scissors have potential to replace the disposable scalpel that is now the norm. The device made from ceramic is expected to reduce the incidence of infection related to poor delivery hygiene in developing countries. Klar will distribute a prototype of the scissors to communities in the developing world with a high incidence of tetanus and perinatal infections. The device will be evaluated for an association between use of the scissors and reduction in infection as well as its ease of use and ability to keep the cutting edge sterile.