2.75 - Medical Device Design

In this course, I worked with 4 classmates to design a solution for detecting pneumothoraxes in a patient in an emergency pre-hospital setting, like the scene of an accident or in an ambulance. Speedy detection is important, as the condition of a patient can rapidly deteriorate if left untreated; on the other hand, accurate detection can prevent unnecessary use of typical needle based intervention. 

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Working with the team as well as emergency medical professionals, we developed a table of functional requirements, analysis methods, risks, countermeasures and more to guide our strategy development. Taking inspiration from current practices, we decided to follow a sound transmission based route - input a sound with a contact speaker, measure the output with a microphone and compare the signal to data based on a non-pneumothorax baseline.

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I helped design and fabricate the bench top model we would use to test the device. Using a ribcage skeletal model as a frame, me and my colleague inserted foam filled plastic bags into the cavity to simulate the lungs, alongside rubber balloons we would inflate to certain volumes to replicate a pneumothorax. The contact speaker would rest on the model and a frequency sweep would be input, transmit through the model and measured using electronic stethoscopes. Our findings were documented and compiled into a final presentation given to the class and client partners.