This project builds upon existing Pectus Carinatum braces by creating a real-time pressure mapping system that a user can access from any device located on the same WiFi network.
Sponsored by: Penn State Health
Team Members
Andrew Amin Arsalan Saif Dominik Nitecki Kunal Misra Robert Spangler
Instructor: Dr. Kyusun Choi
Project Poster
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Project Video
Project Summary
Overview
Penn State Health approached our team in the hopes of developing a continuous pressure monitoring system to be used in treatment in patients suffering with Pectus Carinatum. The representative, Dr.Tsai, tasked our team with four main goals in the brace: design a brace with continuous pressure mapping capabilities, implement wireless connectivity to view readings on users mobile devices, verify that the brace could last eight to twelve on a single charge, and ensure the electrical components should not add bulkiness to the brace such that it is visible through the users clothes. This project is also intended to be replicable and produced at a large scale and to be widely used in treatment in Pectus Carinatum.
Objectives
-Fully understand the design and data collected by the previous team and improve the usability of the brace by using smaller and comfortable components
-Add electrical components and a microcontroller that supports Bluetooth compatibility to display the heatmap of pressure readings
-Build on the ABC analysis of the materials to understand which supplies are crucial and keep the budget under $150
-Hide the hardware by using a 3D printer to avoid any risk to safety
Approach
-Redesign a brace used to treat Pectus Carinatum that has a way to track the pressure applied to the chest. The brace will output the pressure readings in a form of a heat map to a display.
-Develop a circuit that can host nine pressure pads that will read small pressure values. This will connect all the electrical components and ensure that the readings are accurate to a small degree.
-Design code on a Raspberry Pi that will host a website to display and run the heatmap. This will be easy for the user and doctor to know how much pressure us being applied and if it needs to be changed.
Outcomes
-Comfort: The Adjustable Strap allows the user to adjust the brace as it is worn for long periods at a time. Additionally, The brace has padding to ensure that it is comfortable for the user to wear. The brace is generally worn for around 12 hours at a stretch.
-Connectivity: The brace has WIFI capabilities and can connect with the user’s home WIFI network. An IP address is generated that allows the user to view data across all devices.
-Pressure Sensing: The Brace has nine inbuilt pressure pads that provides live pressure readings to the user.
-Heat/Pressure Map: The brace generates a webpage that has a live pressure map. This provides a visual representation to the user of where on the pads the pressure is being applied, and is color coded to help the user ensure that they are applying the correct amount of pressure. The adjustable straps can be used to help the user apply the correct amount of pressure to their chest.
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