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The aim of this project is to redesign and reproduce a pre-existing Bioreactor that is specific to the culturing of human vocal fold fibroblasts. The existing design models the vibration of a single vocal fold under tensile stress and provokes the elongation of fibroblasts and the subsequent formation of an extra-cellular matrix, characteristic of vocal fold fibroblasts. Our goal is to improve upon this model by simulating contact between two vibrating vocal folds and potentially finding a better substitute for Tecoflex, because its porosity is non-uniform and the pore size is too large. The bioreactor will be made from a T-flask with elastic vibrators immersed in a buffer, which will function as vocal folds. This device needs to be easily replaced with disposable parts, along with 2 pairs of artificial vocal folds and a capacity to generate (computer controlled) vibrations at a frequency (0-400Hz).
From left to right: Karen Chen, Rachel Mosher, Dustin
Gardner, and Richard Bamberg.
We have successfully completed the semester.
| Week | Reporting Period Beginning | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 26 | Initial meeting, decision of team roles, and background research. |
| 2 | February 2 | Initial client meeting and further background research. |
| 3 | February 9 | Second client meeting, research, brainstorming ideas, and sharing ideas. |
| 4 | February 16 | Finished design matrix, completed PDS, researched parts for ordering. |
| 5 | February 23 | Third client meeting, contact with original design team, and further parts research. |
| 6 | March 2 | Received parts information from original design team, finished presentation, and further parts research. |
| 7 | March 9 | Finished mid-semester report. Searching for specific parts to order. |
| 8 | March 16 | Fourth client meeting. Continue searching for and ordering parts. |
| 9 | March 23 | Ordering parts and plans for prototype construction. |
| 10 | March 30 | Finding and ordering parts, putting some together, and waiting for other parts to come in. |
| 11 | April 6 | Final parts ordered, planning construction of the prototype. |
| 12 | April 13 | Fifth client meeting. Starting to assemble the prototype. |
| 13 | April 20 | Sixth client meeting. Moving parts tested successfully. Continuation of prototype assembly. |
| 14 | April 27 | Final poster presentation. |
| 15 | May 4 | Final client meeting and final paper due. |
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Mid-Semester Presentation (Mar 9 2007, 1048 kb) |
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Mid-Semester Report (Mar 14 2007, 232 kb) |
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Product Design Specifications (Mar 14 2007, 22 kb) |
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Final Poster Presentation (May 8 2007, 2271 kb) |
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Final Report (May 9 2007, 861 kb) |
