Archive from the Fall 2001 semester.
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When cauterizing blood vessels during microsurgery of the brain, an instrument similar to a standard tweezers is used. The ends are clamped over the vessel, and a radio frequency of varying length and amplitude is passed through, cauterizing the vessel. The current is typically initiated using a foot pedal. A useful innovation would be the development of a set of tweezers with the cautery switch on the shaft, allowing the surgeon to position the tips and cauterize in a single motion.
Problem Statement: To modify electrosurgery forceps used during neurosurgery with the intention to alter cauterization activation from an on/off switch currently used in conjunction with a foot pedal to an on/off switch located on the shaft of the tweezers.
Group Members
Luke Harris - Web Master
Nick Kortan
Crystal Marshek - Team Leader
Andrea Rozmenoski
Ryan Sydnor
Valentine Thao - Course Improvement
Mike Wells - Communications
Dr. Behnam Badie, M.D.
Department of Neurological Surgery
UW Hospital
Week
One - The week of September 7th, 2001 - (5.5 KB PDF)
Week Two
- The week of September 13th, 2001 - (5.4 KB PDF)
Week Three - The
week of September 20th, 2001 - (7.5 KB PDF)
Week Four
- The week of September 27th, 2001 - (6.1 KB PDF)
Week
Five - The week of October 4th, 2001 - (5.9 KB PDF)
Week
Six - The week of October 11th, 2001 - (5.5 KB PDF)
Week Seven and Eight
- The week of October 18th and 25th - (7.6 KB PDF)
Week
Nine - The week of November 1st - (5.5 KB PDF)
Week
Ten - The week of November 8th - (5.4 KB PDF)
Week
Eleven - The week of November 15th - (5.2 KB PDF)
Week
Twelve - The week of November 22nd - (5.2 KB PDF)
Week
Thirteen - The week of November 29th - (4.6 KB PDF)
Week
Fourteen - The week of December 6th - (5.3 KB PDF)
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Week
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The reporting period beginning on:
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ACTIVITIES
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1
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September 7th
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The design team broke into 2 to 3 person groups, chose
job duties for the semester, and initiated contact with our client - UW
Hospital Neurosurgeon Dr. Behnam Badie.
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2
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September 13th
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Contacted Dr. Badie's assistant to set up meeting. Did
not meet on Friday 9/14 due to conflicting schedules.
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3
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September 20th
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Looked up articles and other equipment related information
on-line during class time. Met with Dr. Badie on Monday 9/24 to discuss
design constraints and specifications.
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4
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September 27th
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Continued to develop design ideas and tried to schedule
a time when the design team could view the cauterizing forceps during
a surgery.
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5
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October 4th
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Observed surgery, 10/5. Put together most of the Product
Design Specifications (PDS). Met as a group to discuss project, 10/9.
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6
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October 11th
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Preliminary design reports and presentations were prepared
by each individual group.
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7
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October 18th
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Mid-semester presentations were given in class on October
19th. The group is now combining as one large group and a client meeting
was set up to discuss design ideas.
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8
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October 25th
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Created goals for the rest of the semester:
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9
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November 1st
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Discussed what was said after two meetings: one with the
client, Dr. Badie, and another with Professor Burke. Divided up 3 companies
the group should contact, started to plan the production of a prototype
(with the help of the ME department), and thought of purchasing an actual
forceps.
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10
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November 8th
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Obtained a forceps from the hospital that we can modify.
Developed design ideas and sought out additional advice: met with Bill Hagquist from the ME shop about the placement of a button on the forceps, and met with Prof. Webster about circuitry problem. |
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11
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November 15th
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Found information about autoclaving at the UW Hospital (procedures, temperatures, etc) that will be useful in developing the prototype. Met with Prof. Burke and ordered several potential buttons. Prof. Burke also gave advice on button selection and circuitry problems. |
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12
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November 22nd
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Waiting for the arrival of the buttons. (No class - Thanksgiving).
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13
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November 29th
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Button's arrived. Gave the ME department the forceps and
button to weld button platform in place. Contacted hospital to try to
obtain a generator that would allow us to possibly cauterize during the
poster presentation. Members of the team are working on the poster and
final paper, which will be completed next week..
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14
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December 6th
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Made final touches on the poster and paper. Due December
14th.
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Download the team's final design report and final poster presentation.
Final Design Report (324 KB PDF)
Final Poster Presentation (1.1 MB Zipped
ppt)
Download each individual group's PowerPoint presentation and preliminary design report (mid-semester).
Luke Harris and Crystal Marshek - Presentation
(53 KB Zipped ppt) and Report
(118 KB PDF).
Ryan Sydnor and Valentine Thao - Presentation
(1.3 MB PDF) and Report
(187 KB PDF).
Nick Kortan, Mike Wells, and Andrea Rozmenoski - Presentation
(35 KB Zipped ppt) and Report
(97 KB PDF).
For questions or concerns regarding the content or layout of the webpage, please e-mail the webmaster, Luke Harris. For any other questions pertaining to the project, please email the project's communications leader Mike L. Wells.
If for some reason, you would like to contact other members of this design team, you may email them:
Crystal Marshek - Team Leader
Valentine Lee - Course Improvement
Nick Kortan
Ryan Sydnor
Andrea Rozmenoski
