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During anesthesia metabolism slows down, which can lead to hypothermia and eventual death. For prolonged microPET or microCT scans, where animals are kept for an extended period of time under anesthesia, it is important to keep the animals at steady temperature. Currently heating lights are used to provide that; however they lead to non-uniform and poorly controlled temperature regulation. Therefore, we proposed to design a heating device, that could be used to provide controllable, and steady temperature during prolonged scans. Because of the imaging requirements, the heating device cannot contain metal parts.
From left to right: Eric Printz, Ryan Carroll, Ben Engel, Justin Schmidt
Background
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in combination with Computed Tomography (CT) is currently used by researchers to locate and study cancerous cells in a body. PET utilizes radiopharmaceuticals that usually consist of a sugar and a radionuclide that are injected into the host prior to a scan. Cancer cells metabolize sugar at a higher rate than normal cells and are therefore shown as areas of high intensity on the PET scan. A CT scan provides researchers with information about the anatomy of the subject. The PET data when overlaid with a CT scan creates a complete image of the cancerous cells within the anatomy of the host.
The Scanner
The microPET/CT Scanner
(Left) This is the front of the microPET/CT Scanner. (Right) This is the rear of the microPET/CT machine.
Prototype Design
A few schematics we used to design our prototype.
Heat Delivery Enclosure Detail (front)
Prototype Construction
Heat-Delivery Enclosure
The Tube-Heater
Completed Prototype Elements
PVC Tube Heater
Heat Delivery Enclosure
| Week | Reporting Period Beginning | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 26 | Team formed. First meeting with Client. |
| 2 | February 2 | Second meeting with Client. PDS completed. |
| 3 | February 9 | Multiple group brainstorming sessions. Preliminary design matrix drafted. |
| 4 | February 16 | Contacted various companies about heating devices. Although many were considered, most failed to meet the specifications required by our project. The same was done with air pumps but with greater success. |
| 5 | February 23 | Drafted new design containing the discovered air and heating elements. |
| 6 | March 2 | Contacted client and set up meeting for 3/8. Finished writing PowerPoint presentation. |
| 7 | March 9 | Mid-Semester Presentation. Gave a discussion at the hospital with client and colleagues. |
| 8 | March 16 | Purchased material for the PVC Heater. Finished Mid-Semester Report. |
| 9 | March 23 | Received materials. There were problems with the dimensions of the tube. |
| 10 | March 30 | Hospital visit to scan a few of the parts for compatibility with scanner. Size and presence of artifacts during scans were factors that were addressed. |
| 11 | April 6 | Spring Break. New tube was purchased for enclosure. Prototype for both the heater and the mouse enclosure are halfway finished. |
| 12 | April 13 | Return from Spring Break. The general "frame" for the mouse enclosure was built. |
| 13 | April 20 | Nichrome wire soldered in tube. Holes drilled in end caps of heat deliver chamber, holes drilled for wires on the heater. |
| 14 | April 27 | Purchased rubber cork for the heat delivery chamber. Glued tube valves onto end of heat delivery chamber. Tested Device. |
| 15 | May 4 | Final Poster Presentation. |
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Mid-Semester Presentation (Mar 8 2007, 478 kb) |
 |
Product Design Specification (Mar 14 2007, 105 kb) |
|
Mid-Semester Report (Mar 14 2007, 580 kb) |
|
Final Poster (May 7 2007, 1003 kb) |
