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Our goal is to design a finger plethysmograph to measure blood resistivity. Impedance plethysmography may be used to measure arterial volume change that occurs with propagation of the blood pressure pulse in a limb segment. For this measurement, we assume a constant value of blood resistivity. However, blood resistivity may change under both physiological and pathological conditions. Use of an impedance plethysmograph on a finger immersed in a salt-filled beaker may yield a simple method for determining blood resistivity. This may develop into a method that diabetics can use to measure glucose level noninvasively.
We have just finished presenting the results of our work and research from this semester at the 2008 Department of Biomedical Engineering Fall Design poster session.
We have finished building the data acquisition device and circuit, and are currently analyzing results. We have concluded work for the semester and have summarized our progress and findings in the document ‘Final Report’, posted under the Presentations and Reports section of this page.
Two book excerpts related to our project have been posted under the Presentations and Reports section of this webpage. Additional background readings can also be found at http://ecow.engr.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/get/bme/200/webster/2.projects/project25f/
Picture of our team
| Week | Reporting Period Beginning | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 5 | Submit proposal for project. Meet with team and decide team roles. |
| 2 | September 12 | Begin initial project research. Meet with client and key personnel. |
| 3 | September 19 | Continue research. Begin brainstorming on different components of the design. |
| 4 | September 26 | Finish research. Continue brainstorming on different components of the design. Begin working on the mid-semester report |
| 5 | October 3 | Finish developing our final design ideas. Finish preparing the mid-semester presentation |
| 6 | October 10 | Begin finalizing the circuitry. Start experimenting with saline solutions and current frequencies |
| 7 | October 17 | Read newly released documents. Decide on circuit element values |
| 8 | October 24 | Order circuit parts |
| 9 | October 31 | Begin building circuit and program LABView software |
| 10 | November 7 | Finish building circuit; build mechanical finger holder; begin component integration |
| 11 | November 14 | Begin initial testing; modify and update circuit and mechanical holder as necessary |
| 12 | November 21 | Continue testing and design improvement; begin preparing final report |
| 13 | November 28 | Prepare final presentation; finish final report |
| 14 | December 5 | Final Presentations |
| 15 | December 12 | Hand in final report |
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David Swanson - 1976 - Thesis on Electrical Impedance Changes in the Limb (Oct 6 2008, 4968 kb) |
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BME 462 - Excerpt from Medical Instrumentation - John Webster (Oct 13 2008, 3207 kb) |
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Mid Semester Presentation (Oct 17 2008, 1762 kb) |
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Product Design Specifications (Oct 21 2008, 39 kb) |
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Updated Product Design Specifications (Dec 11 2008, 45 kb) |
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Poster (Dec 11 2008, 2913 kb) |
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Final Report (Dec 12 2008, 544 kb) |
