Cable Management for iKMC : Designing for Simplicity, Comfort, and Clinical Efficiency
Our first project focuses on developing a cable management system to support integrated Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC), a lifesaving approach that promotes continuous skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their newborns.
In many hospitals especially those with limited resources the cables connected to monitoring devices and life-support equipment often become tangled or obstruct care, reducing safety and comfort for both mother and infant.
To tackle this challenge, we conducted thorough research and observation, concentrating on:
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The number, type, and routing of cables used in iKMC environments
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Existing cable organization solutions and their shortcomings
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Materials such as fabric, Velcro (Velcro), and support structures suitable for clinical use
Now, in the design phase, we are creating multiple concept models using SolidWorks. These models will be 3D printed for evaluation. Our approach is iterative developing a range of functional prototypes, testing them, and refining the design to achieve the best balance of usability, safety, and comfort.
Some concepts under consideration include:
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A tray mounted to a support structure or chair to organize and route cables
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Velcro-based systems that allow flexible attachment and repositioning
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Cloth pins with cable-holding holes, offering lightweight and reusable solutions
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A garment-integrated solution with built-in cable channels for wearable convenience
Each concept is designed with clinical workflows, mother-and-child movement, and easy cleaning in mind. We’re excited to move into prototyping and testing in the coming weeks.
Giant Cheetos Machine : Troubleshooting, Testing, and Thermal Observation
Our second project involves troubleshooting a Giant Cheetos extrusion machine that was producing burnt products and frequently jamming.
To better understand the machine’s behavior, we attached three thermocouples along the extruder barrel to monitor temperature changes during operation. We also used a tachometer to measure the motor’s rotational speed.
Key observations include:
- High friction between the screw and certain dies, causing excessive heat and material blockage
- Some dies stuck and halted the motor, while others fit better but still failed to produce consistent output
- A sample mixture of 50% water and 50% grits extruded briefly, but the motor jammed again
From these findings, we identified critical issues:
- Moisture content in the grits is crucial too little water leads to burning and blockages
- The 5HP motor running at 3450 RPM is too fast for extrusion and needs to be reduced to a safer speed (350 to 500 RPM)
- A small gap between the screw and die may contribute to inconsistent material flow
Next steps include:
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- Developing methods to safely control or reduce motor speed
- Conducting further tests with different moisture ratios to find the optimal mix
- Making mechanical adjustments to improve screw-die interaction
Beyond the Projects: Cooking Together
Apart from our technical projects, we had a wonderful opportunity to cook and share a meal together with fellow interns. This experience was a great way to strengthen our team spirit and learn the importance of collaboration and communication in a work environment.
Cooking together helped us bond beyond our daily tasks, exchange ideas in a relaxed setting, and recharge from the pressures of work.
Reflection
These past two weeks have reinforced that engineering is not just about building things it’s about deeply understanding real-world problems and solving them with empathy and creativity.
Whether improving cable safety in neonatal care or troubleshooting mechanical and thermal challenges in food extrusion, these projects have strengthened my design, problem-solving, and user-centered thinking skills.
This experience reminds me why I chose biomedical engineering: to create practical solutions that improve lives.
