Self-Disarming Suture Needle, Team SWAGE

Client: Victor Haughton

Team Members: Briar Duffy, Angela Heppner, Elizabeth Nee, Jeff Phillips

December 6 to December 12, 2001

 

Problem Statement

In order to prevent accidental needle “sticks” from a suturing device to a surgeon or staff member, a disarming or retracting sterilized suture needle must be developed that allows a reversible action when passing into and through the underlying subcutaneous tissue, dermis, epidermis, or other organ tissues in the body.  The device must encompass all features of sharpness, stiffness, maneuverability, and size/shape variance as a conventional needle with the added safety of needle retraction.  The goal is to permanently eliminate the risk of needle puncture and infection to the operator during procedures.

 

Last Week’s Goals

·          Complete final paper and poster presentation. 

·          Select a final design.

·          Finish working mechanistic prototypes.

 

Summary of Accomplishments

·          The poster presentation and paper were discussed during team meetings Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  Jeff has started creating slides for the poster, which will be finished later tonight at another group meeting.  Briar has finished editing the mid-semester report, except for the sections Angela and Elizabeth will turn in at tonight’s meeting.  The PDS, abstract, and design constraints sections still need to be revised, which will also be finished tonight, in addition to writing a new section evaluating our final design concept.  Elizabeth is well underway with creating SolidWorks drawings for the paper and presentation.

·          A final design that uses fluid pressure changes to arm and disarm the needle was selected during a meeting with Professor Tyler, on Wednesday, December 5.

·          All prototypes (including one of the new design) are finished, except for a few minor aesthetic additions, which Angela will complete Thursday.

 

This Week’s Goals

·          Complete design notebooks and peer evaluations.

·          Present poster, hand in final paper, and go to final meeting with Professor Tyler.

 

Project Schedule

Week

In-Class

Outside of Class

11.21.2001

THANKSGIVING BREAK

Research/ work individually

11.28.2001

Plan final presentation, finish prototypes

Complete & test protypes

12.05.2001

Complete final prototype

Complete final presentation

12.12.2001

FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Practice final presentation

17-21 Dec.

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MEET WITH ADVISORS

 

Project Difficulties

            None at this time.

 

Activities

12.05.2001            Team: Meeting with Professor Tyler.                                                            1.00 hr

12.05.2001            Elizabeth: Learn new SolidWorks software.                                              1.00 hr

12.06.2001            Angela: Obtain materials for new prototype.                                             1.25 hr 

12.06.2001            Elizabeth: Volume calculations.                                                                  0.30 hr

12.07.2001            Angela: Experiment with building balloon mechanism for prototype.            3.00 hr

12.07.2001            Team: Class time- Meet with Prof. Tyler, define final project goals.    1.00 hr

12.07.2001            Angela & Jeff: Construct prototype for final design.                               3.50 hr

12.07.2001            Elizabeth: Read SolidWorks manual.                                                 1.00 hr

12.08.2001            Briar: E-mail Dr. Haughton about poster talk, e-mail group about paper.            0.25 hr

12.08.2001            Jeff: Write revisions for paper.                                                                      0.50 hr

12.08.2001            Briar: Work on paper revisions.                                                                      1.50 hr

12.09.2001            Team: Meeting to schedule group work times and discuss poster.               1.00 hr

12.09.2001            Elizabeth: Work through SolidWorks tutorial, begin drawings.                      7.00 hr

12.10.2001            Elizabeth: Finish drawing needle sheath, convert to 2-D draft drawings.            2.00 hr

12.11.2001            Team: Meeting to further plan poster and final presentation.                 1.00 hr

12.11.2001            Elizabeth: Model needle tip & needle-sheath assy. in SolidWorks.            6.00 hr

12.12.2001            Angela: Paper revisions.                                                                         0.50 hr

12.12.2001            Angela: Write progress report.                                                              0.50 hr