BIEN 175B: Update 2C On Friday, May 2nd, I will be available between I will be available to interview from 8AM to 11AM.

Progress Report (4/23 4/29): We realized during our testing of the feedback component that there were certain limitations to the way the circuit was setup, with the LEDs in series with the resistors feeding into individual input ports of our Arduino. Firstly, the LEDs would only momentarily light up when a contact is formed, and may not be easily noticed by the the user. Also, it limited how many sensing regions we could include to the number of ports built into the Arduino itself. Therefore, we are working on a slight redesign to the actual circuit layout, keeping in line with our original idea, detailed in the sketch below. Several resistor branches will be used, where a large sensing region is covered by a single analog port which reads in a variable voltage value dependent on which specific resistor of that branch comes into contact with the charged procedural component (cathe ter guidewire or syringe tip).

Sketch of revised feedback system circuit layouts. One of the advantages is that, rather than only receive information of which general region (jugular veins, subclavian, superior vena cava) the user is current in, the Arduino will be able to read in information regarding 20 different types of contacts. This includes which vessel is about to be penetrated by the syringe, greater precision for the location of the charged guidewire/catheter so the user can gauge depth of insertion, etc.

We have decided, at the present moment, to do away with the flow system for the venous system and maintain it inclusion for the arterial system. The reason for this is that the flow system is meant to achieve vessel pressurization so for an added haptic component during the procedure. This is only really necessary within the common carotid artery as the vessel pulsing can only be felt from it. During an ultrasound assisted procedure, it is observed in the physiological system that only the artery visibly pulses, and due to its pressurization, fails to collapse when a compressive force is applied. Due to the lack of significant mechanical differences between the venous components with or without that low pressure fluid flow, we decided to do away with a feature which appears to unnecessarily complicate our simulator.

Venous system innervated with copper contact sensing components. For feedback provided to the simulator user during the execution of the procedure, based on the analog readings obtained by these ports, the Arduino will then activate user feedback components (LED display and/or piezoacoustic device) to help them track their progress. Because these components are not integrated directly into the reading input portion of our circuit, but utilizes an entirely independent set of digital input/output ports, were 3D printing a housing unit for an LED display illustration with the piezo sounder attached to its interior miniature breadboard.

ABS plastic housing for dynamic user feedback components (LED display, piezo sounder), and the piezo sounder component itself. The Styrofoam interior is being gradually shaped to accommodate the various components of our model (silicone vasculature, skeletal component, circuitry, fluid pump and solenoid, feed solution reservoir, etc.) and hold several of them in place. Starting from larger block pieces, we must cut or spot melt them to shape so that they will fit within our fiberglass torso.

Foam interior of simulator beside fiberglass torso to be layed atop of it.

Fitting the various components within foam insert. Description of work that still needs to be completed at that point: Progress towards the roughly complete simulator has been slow, as the fitting for our various components must be exact. We must be make large, sweeping modifications as any errors at this stage will most likely be irreversible. For example, we have yet to determine where exactly to cut our fiberglass shell, depicted below, so that it matches up exactly with those internal components. We have still yet to shape the ballistic gel for the musculature, as it is meant to overlay atop of the foam, skeletal component, and vasculature. The foam material, though relatively fragile or weak, is reinforced after several coats of paint. Once we have made the final shaping, we will paint it with a red paint and primer mixture which will make it more presentable for the Week 6 demonstrations.

Fiberglass torso with outline depicting planned cut. Furthermore, the program for the new feedback system layout needs to be finished. Through a series of Boolean statements, the programs functions will be invoked at different phases of the procedure (exploratory insertion of the syringe, gradual progression of catheter guidewire, etc.) such as obtaining information about the rate and consistency of the guidewire insertion, or fading the intensity of the various LEDs, such as for the subclavian vein or superior vena cava, based on the guidewire tips proximity to their corresponding position on the diagram. We have another meeting with Dr. Bock from the San Antonio Community Hospital this Friday, May 2nd. We are to show him the progress of the simulator thus far, and obtain his input on what additional modifications would still be required.

Full draft of the final report (required application components for the BMEStart competition, with placeholders for any data/analysis that has yet to be completed): See attached file.