This is the last week of the Summer Experience in Engineering Design internship. We had two major goals for the week: test with the actual user to analyze the success or failure of our device, and give a final presentation showing both what we’ve been doing this summer and the results of our project.

On Tuesday we went to the user’s house to test with him. As a team we generally refer to him as the user to respect his privacy. For the same reasons I won’t post any images or videos of the user in the device. That being said, both the family and the user had really positive responses to our final device. We had several design criteria that we wanted to look at: comfort, ease of use and of course safety. The family commented that the device was very comfortable and really liked how easy to use it was. Compared to the last device, our final device had less straps and was much easier to get the user in the device.

When testing, the device passed a safety criteria at first, but after about 10 minutes the device became more unsafe. What was happening was that the user tended to arch his back, causing him to slide forward in the seat. Most users sit a lot more vertically, so the size of the mesh seat encases their underside, providing a very secure seat. However since the user was arching his back, the seat ended up being too much material and allowed the user to be a lot more flat on the water than we had wanted. While this is a position we had anticipated for, we had been anticipating a different motion as a primary motion. Since we had no contact with either the family or the user prior, we were satisfied with the results.

Since then we have also given a presentation regarding our findings and talked about what the steps moving forward might be. The device has at least one, possibly more, iterations left to have a completely successful device. We have ideas on how to accomplish this, but not enough time to complete the changes before the internship ends. Additionally, before the project is handed off to the family, Rice will do a formal review to ensure the safety of the user. This review will take time and have many iterations before the device can be considered finished and ready to hand off to the family.

I just wanted to take this last moment to mention how much fun I had at this internship. I loved getting to know all these fantastic people, especially the ones from all around the globe. Shout out to my fantastic team of Allie and Rafael. I’m going to miss everyone, but am ready to come back in the fall and continue working on projects.

It’s the final week here at SEED and (even though its super cliche) it all flew by so quickly!

In the beginning of the week, we finished up durability, ease of use, and comfort tests for our device. We identified the mesh seat of our swim support device as the most likely point of failure, so we loaded it up with weights until it ripped. The good news is that it can hold up to 495 lbs on dry land. The bad news is that my eardrums still haven’t recovered from the gigantic booming sound that resulted when the mesh finally gave out and 495 pounds came crashing to the floor. For comfort and ease of use we engaged both our fellow interns and strangers at the pool, asking them to test the device and how much they agreed with the statement “This device is comfortable enough for 30 minutes of continuous use.” We also instructed them on how to load a plastic dummy into the device and timed how long it took them to load/unload. Our device passed all tests with flying colors and so, since the goal of this project is to design a flotation aid that allows a user with cerebral palsy and a tracheal tube to float independently and safely in the water, it was time to start testing with our actual user. I know I was incredibly nervous, yet excited. Last semester, our prototype testing with the user proved that the design could not meet the user’s needs and we had to scrap the design. It was frustrating, yet invigorating, fuelling this summer’s work to make a successful prototype and I badly wanted this site visit to end differently than the previous one.

The tests were incredibly successful and we got a lot of good data both from our own observations, the family, and the user himself (for privacy reasons, no pictures of our tests with the user will be posted). The design of the device successfully kept our user’s trach tube away from the water without additional support, was very comfortable, and easy to use with the family’s lift. The two major drawbacks were the design of the seat, which allowed the user to slide downwards, and the fidelity of the safety belt, which was very ill-fitting. However, overall, the family and design team were incredibly happy with the prototype. As our user’s mother put it, the design works, it just has a few “kinks” that need to be worked out. I look forward to designing and building the next prototype and then preparing for the extensive safety review necessary to pass off a final prototype to the family.

We gave our final presentation, started cleaning up and then, before I could blink, it was the end of SEED 2016 and I had to start packing my bags.

I’m not normally a sentimental person, but I think y’all are so amazing and deserve a few words. So here it goes.

Thank you, to all the SEED interns, there’s no other 14 people who I would have rather spent my days with, prototyping and freezing to death in the OEDK basement. To Mikaela and Helen, thanks for your invaluable input and technical assistance. To Drs. Loyo, Wettergreen, and all the “adults” of the OEDK, thanks for all the work you put in. And, most of all, thanks to Rice 360 for giving me this amazing opportunity to spend the summer doing the work I love the most with such a great group of people.

Thank you and goodbye!

Allie

 

During this week we finished our final prototype!

We started the week with prototype #8, which is the one with the refined harness . Our goal was to make a safe, easy to use and comfortable device. Our device is going to provide the user, 17 years old teenager with cerebral palsy , to float independently.

The final design is a U format float tube (image below), that originally is used for fly fishing in calm water rivers and deep water. We iterated until getting in this final design in order to provide enough flotation and support up to 250lb, a safety factor of 2. The green mesh seat provided a good support and confort to the 11 people that we tested during the week. An another feature that helps with flotation is the PVC covered with blue pool noodle. We splitted up to do different activities to be more effective and I worked in the PVC. Gigi and Allie worked in the harness and straps.

The idea of the PVC is to prevent the user of sliding forward and out of the device. This part provides a better structure and flotation to the Teton, blue U shaped Inner Tube.

There is a chest/shoulder (yellow/black and yellow strap) that will prevent the client tracheal tube being far from the water and giving more stability for him while using the device. To test this we used a 45 degree cutted foam block and a 4 inch lenght paper towel in the user neck.

We did all the tests according to our testing plan and we had success in all of them. Safety, support, easy of use, comfort, cost and durability.

For the durability test, we tested the green mesh seat. Because that was pointed as the first possible point that may fail in the device. The criteria was to hold 250lb. We tested with gym weights and the seat just fail at 495lb!!!

In the end of the week we worked in a instruction manual and device introduction/explanation. Basically, we did a step by step videos of how assembly all the straps. We worked on finishing documentation too, which we did a very good job.

Next Week, we are going to test with Dr. Wettergreen (Monday), Liam (Tuesday) and Final Presentation (Wednesday). I’m really excited about next week, I hope all the best for us.

#goteamswimsupport

Rafael V. Lantmann

 

This week was so great to our cervical cancer project.

After presenting our project to our client Dr Schmeler, she was really excited with our project progress, however, she pin pointed  two things that we needed to modify, thus,

1. color change should last about 3-5 minutes
2. the cancerous and precancerous parts should only be on one or two parts of the model
   we spent the whole week modifying the models, choosing models to be used for final prototype and printing the normal and normal with cyst models using PLA filament. the precancerous and cancerous models will be printed using Ninja-flex  flexible filament which we have ordered which is more flexible and will help the models hold its temperature for some time, this will in turn help the color change last longer. below are the pictures of normal and normal with cyst model
                                                               

alongside modifying and printing, i also made model holders shown on the pictures using adobe illustrator and laser cutter. i really liked this tasks cause it has made me gain some knowledge on how to use laser cutter and adobe illustrator.

we also tested our models against four of our design criteria; color change,reuse,cost and portable.am so excited getting to see that we have achieved all our criteria we tested.
we finally had an exciting  printing workshop in which i printed my 2 t-shirts.

our next task is to print the remaining models, paint them and test the other two design criteria, realistic and easy to use.

Since last week we have been testing our Prototypes at the Rice Rec Center Pool.

In this Tuesday morning, we basicaly did the same iterative process. We have been working in some new ideas/improvements and moving forward with the ones that we want to our final prototype design.

All that were just possible because last Friday we worked hard to make our prototype be ready for testing. The main reason for that was the 4th of July (Monday), and we just have Tuesday/Thursday mornings to test at the Rec Pool, that’s why everything was ready on Friday . So that whay we just have to go straight to the Pool and test the Prototype.

On the 4th of July, I went to the Hermann Park to watch the fireworks. Was a great experience expending all the day celebrating the USA Independence Day. The SEED interns did a barbecue on the Sunday, day before, to show to the internacional students some of the ways they celebrate the 4th of July.

Tuesday morning was one of our testing morning. Basically we went to the pool, as usual, and tested the device that we prepared in the Friday before. We reached a point in our project that almost every day that we go to the pool, we have modifications/inprovements almost every time. These improvements are small details, but they will make all the difference in the end of the Project.

We followed our normal schedule and started testing the device. The point was to see potencial failure points and additional issues.

Our main “tool” was Zipties. They are pretty easy to word with, cheap, adjstable and they hold approximatelly 75lb each, which was very good for us. Helped a lot using zipties to make small adjustments and we learnt that “you can always fix things with zipties”.

In the end of the week, we finished our Higher Fidelity Prototype and its ready for testing next week. The tests will be based on our Constrains and Objective Criteria.

We had a good performance this week. Our group did a good job and important improvements.

I came up the idea of using a GoPro to take pictures and film under the water. That was really helpful for us to evaluate some issues and better show/explain to our advisors how the device works under the water level.

#goteamswimsupport

Rafael V. Lantmann

 

 

For the IncuBaby user interface, even though I conducted an informal usability test, I followed the recommended steps to conduct a proper usability study. Coming in with no prior usability study experience, I found it fascinating and insightful to work through the process. In the previous weeks, I created a PowerPoint with the UI designs I wanted feedback on and questions I wanted to answer. I was also advised that it’d be possible to give out more information than I should unless I create a script for myself. That way, everyone gets the same information, and no information involuntarily slips out. And later, I found that it was the perfect step to help me take notes during the tests and put together a worksheet that would provide guidance for the interns who might conduct the test in Malawi. Several of the SEED interns in the OEDK participated in the test and gave me a lot of helpful feedback and several new ideas to address some of the issues with my designs. It’s interesting to see what another pair of eyes can notice… the range of what some people think of as clean or cluttered…how people take a glowing “Check Sensor” light to mean a wide range of different things…or how people make connections when similar colors appear in different places on the UI.  I think it would be interesting to see how much their feedback may or may not differ from feedback from health practitioners in Malawi. And that has led me to wanting to conduct an informal usability test in Malawi. 

I came back and compiled all of the feedback into a single document and went ahead and made the suggested changes to the UI. I’m hoping that the Rice interns in Malawi can conduct an informal usability test with the nurses, and maybe doctors, in Malawi. To prepare for that, I created materials that people would need to conduct a test in Malawi, which included a background information document, an “instructions/guidance” document, a powerpoint with the UI designs and scenarios, and a revised test script.

Alongside the UI usability tests, I’m preparing for the temperature probe accuracy testing in adults. We ordered a refurbished patient monitor online – that doesn’t come with any instructions – and a software that pairs with the patient monitor to automatically collect temperature data. After dealing with the patient monitor’s incessant beeping, I found out that the patient monitor doesn’t come with the temperature probe or the RS232/MIB card, which we need for the automated data collection. So, that’s on hold until we get those.

 

It’s hard to believe that there’s only one week of SEED left, with only three working days remaining. With the program’s closure, our team is also entering the final stretch. This week, we fabricated our final design for testing purposes, pictured below.

We decided to run many tests in order to assess the quality of our device against the design criteria that we had set out for it.

For our precision test, we assessed how consistent the device was by having each team member use it 7 times and calculating standard deviations. We also using the current device, a goniometer, and calculated standard deviations from its testing in order to compare with our device. After running the numbers, our device was under our goal of 5 degrees of standard deviation and also performed better than the goniometer. The image below on the left shows a test being run on the goniometer.

          

We also ran a torque test as a measure of ease of use. For the setup, we anchored the device at the forearm clamp and pivoted the wrist clamp, with a spring scale attached to the wrist clamp. The test was conducted by pulling on the wrist clamp via the spring scale and reading the force at which it moved, which was done using a slow motion video recording. The set up can be seen in the pictures above on the right. Our device met our goal of at most 0.35 Newton-meters, which is 5 percent of the average human wrist torque.

We also conducted some user testing in which we grabbed random participants from nearby and surveyed them. For our ease of setup test, we gave each user a set of instructions and timed how long it took them to put on the device. Our results met our goal of under 3 minutes for setup. We also conducted some comfort testing where we asked users to rank our device on a user defined scale. The average score of 4 confirmed our comfort testing.

Lastly, we conducted a durability test. The points of failure during our drop test were taken into account for our final iteration. The only test we were not able to conduct was a versatility test in order to see how many patients can our device be used for. Since we haven’t had a chance to visit the hospital yet, we were slightly limited on our resources but we hope to discuss the adaptability of the device with the doctor next week.

 

Can’t believe we got one more week to go, how time flies.

Me and my teammates really looked forward to the beginning of this week as we had a meeting with our main Client Dr Schmeyler and her team at the Bioscience Research collaborative on Tuesday 07/11 from which we were to get the final feedback on the successful progress of our designs for the cervical models. Spent the whole Monday preparing for the meeting and it Involved;

1. Printing all selected top four Solid works files for each stage of cancer development
2. Designing and laser cutting the model holder
3. Test the selected precancerous and cancerous models for color change
4. Compile all Information we need to acquire from the client

After presenting the models and demonstrated the color change replicating the VIA procedure we got a positive feedback from the Dr Schmyler and her team, they love the color changing mechanism we used on the models and wish to implement the cervical models in their VIA training program this coming September.

Our client also pointed out some points that we can work on to improve the Realistic of the models and the prolong the color duration to at least 3 minutes to facilitate the Training time requirement to demonstrate the VIA to the Healthcare Practitioners in the developing countries.

Improvements

Spent the rest of the week working on SolidWorks, Printing 3D models and conducting experiments with the aim to address our clients area of improvement suggestions for the models texture, outlook and the color change duration.

Conducted an experiment to determine the actual temperature of hot water used for the color change will stop activating the low heat sensitive thermochlomic pigments. From this experiment we realised that the color change duration decreases as the temperature of the water drops, which lead to another experiment on maintaining the high temperature of the hot water during the training session for an hour as pointed out by our client to facilitate the longer color change necessary.

Tested the temperature drop of water in a regular Mug and an Insulating Tumbler, the insulating tumbler had a decrease rate of 1.5 degree Fahrenheit per 4 minutes while the Mug had an average drop of 13 degree fahrenheit per 4 minutes. Hence keeping the hot water in an insulating tumbler will provide us with the required temperature to facilitate a longer duration of the color change for a whole one hour VIA Training session.

           

Finally started working on the final prototypes and presentation document of the project to be presented on 07/20.

finished up the week by doing a surprise workshop with the TA’s, printing out tshirts which was really

 

 

 

In the beginning of the week (Monday), we started brainstorming for the NTM (Newborn Temperature Monitor). Basically, the project consists in a device that must be able to show if the baby is OK, too Hot or too Cold. This project is being made to be used for Hospitals in Malawi, Africa. The Hypothermia in newborns often occurs because of the conditions in those hospitals, that sometimes cannot provide enough equipment and nurses to all the babies. However, this device will be able to detect and display the baby condition, to every person be able to easily understand. Weight is an another issue, actually the device has 240g (with 9v battery = 45g). In the future, after evaluating the solutions, we will be able to prototype bases in our Design Criteria and Solution Selection.

After that, we got our ordered materials and started our Project presentation for Thursday (06/30).

Tuesday Morning, we went to the Rec Pool, here at Rice University, to test our Proof of Concept Prototype. Worked well, but when we came back to OEDK, we did a list of Pros/Cons of the current device to start the improvements for the next prototype. In the afternoon, we started working with Solidworks and after that we had a Group Discussion on communication.

Wednesday morning, we Prototype with all materials that finally arrived at the OEDK. We bought Nylon Straps and a Typhoon (U format inner tube structure) and based on that we started the preparatives for the test in the next day. To simulate our client weight, we created a lifejacket that we can put sandbags (weights) inside. So, that way we can better evaluate and simulate his uncoordinated movements. Before adjusting the weights, we did a weight calculation according to the body parts. According to the research, the human body average we have these percentages in the body parts: 8% Head, 50% Torso, 16% Each Leg, 5% Each Arm. Thar way, we could be more precise in our plastic dummy and lifejacket weight division.

Thursday Morning, we had the meeting with Dr. Wettergreen to show him our progress and give to him a feedback of everything we did so far in the week. All the meetings are always really productive, because they always help us to hear different opinions and explain our thoughts about our project.  That is really helpful to improve our current prototype and came up with new ideas for the next ones. After the meeting we went to the pool to make some more tests and modifications in the flotation device to improve the current design. In the afternoon, we had a presentation about our Main Project and the Minor Project too. Our group did well in the presentation, because we had time before to practice and divided well which part each member of the group was going to present.

Today, we bought supplies for our project after the morning meeting. Today we leaded the meeting, was a great experience. After that, we started prototyping. We now have 2 prototypes, the Concept behind the is close, but they are really different. We finished everything today to go to the Pool Tuesday morning and test both. That way, we will be able to see which way our project will follow. The opinion and feedback form Dr. Wettergreen will be really important to us too. After that we will certainly discuss everything and think in improvement for all prototypes.

Rafael V. Lantmann

#goteamswimsupport

 

During this week, our project goal was to starting the Swim Support device design process to our client, Liam Smith. After doing research in the end of the last week, we got a good background of the last project. Allie was part of this team last semester, which is really good for us. She got a great knowledge about the project and is really good having someone like Allie in the group, with this last Prototype experience. I’m sure that is going to be really helpful for us.

Our User has cerebral palsy and after watching the videos became clear that was incredibly difficult to accurately simulate his lack of muscle of control. In the previous project, testing the device with him was dangerous and failed major design criteria.

So, after that, we started thinking a way to simulate his uncoordinated movements. The idea that we had was using a plastic dummy that we bought on Amazon. His name is Mortimer, we picked his name via using random name generator. After Mortimer arrived, we started the tests in the pool to simulate our client movements. We used water, air, weights and all the solutions that came up when we were at the pool, but just after coming back to the OEDK we got other best idea. We decided to use a lifejacket full of sand, because his uncoordinated was being well simulated, however the weight was not with fidelity. We did human body weight division according to the body parts.

After all the Pugh scoring, we decided which one was going to be our final design. That’s a low fidelity prototype of the final design idea.

After building the prototype, we started ordering materials.

Basically, our final design consists of an inner tube with backrest, modified with straps to provide extra support and a special mesh seat with extra support underneath the knees and to submerge our user’s body lower into the water.

We then researched different configurations and materials for straps, in order to provide support for our user, while still being comfortable and easy to use.

In the end of the week we did a small, medium-fidelity belts, then testing them ourselves to settle on a final design.

Rafael V. Lantmann

#goteamswimsupport