Progress Report

Patient Positioning AidE. Vargas, E. Kordieh, M. Britan

Department of Biomedical Engineering

April 7, 2006

Outline

• Background

• Our Design

• Accomplishments

• Future protocol

• Acknowledgements

Background

• RERC 2005-2006:– Aim: Versatile, low-cost, easy-to-adjust patient positioning aid

that works with a range of examination table…and meets the customer needs below.

• Patients with disabilities– Do not necessarily lack access; however, current conditions

make it very difficult for the user and therapist/clinician to perform proper examinations.

Background (cont’d)

Patient Specifications• Bruce

– Renal failure, manual wheelchair• Joan

– Heart failure, old, weak, hard of hearing• Lloyd

– Type II Diabetes, overweight• Sophia

– On heparin, limited right arm function, uses a cane• Arnold

– Parkinson’s, Diabetes, suffers from slight to moderate tremors• Dave

– Limited use to right arm and leg, may use a scooter.

Our Design

• RERC 2005-2006– “imaging technologies”…MRI, CT Scan, X-

ray

• Our Choice: Phillips Achieva 3.0T

Our Design

• The foam contours to the user and the user’s weight is distributed over the surface of the cushion.

• Adjustments are made using two-way air valves that release air to immerse the user in the foam.

Accomplishments

• Reverse Engineering– Varilite ProFormNX– Analysis on:

• Foam

• Air valves

• Tubing

• Material Covering / Sealing

Accomplishments

• Discoveries 1.- Foam is terrible

quality.

2.- Air valves are ok; hard to get.

3.- Tubing is good; diameter small

4.- Material covering is nylon; difficult to seal.

• Improve / Solution1.- Use laminar foam (i.e.,

pudgee/sunmate combo.

2.- Use medically accepted open/close valves.

3.- Use more heavy-duty tubing

4.- Samples of neoprene; access to heat seal machine.

Accomplishments

• Raw material acquisition.– Foam – BioDynamics / Bella– Air valves - ProRhythm– Tubing - ProRhythm– Material Covering –ProRhythm.– Sealing Machine – BioDynamics / ProRhythm

Accomplishments

• Measurements– All measurements have been conducted

(twice).– Second time, measurements were also

conducted with Mr. R. Vargas, for secondary opinions on design and validity of measurements.

Future Protocol

• What’s Next?– Week of Spring Break

• Test out samples of neoprene with heat sealer.

• Acquire neoprene/tubing interface (Qosina)

• Cut foam to specific dimensions.

• Encapsulate the foam.

• Create outer covering(s) of Naugahyde (vinyl).

Future Protocol (cont’d)

• If time remains…– Create patient restraints.

• Body / Chest/ Arm harness

• Wedges

– Test out our product:• Survey

• Demonstrations, etc.

Future Protocol (cont’d)

• URECA– Presentation: April 26th, 2006

• RERC 2005-2006– Website

• Final paper, Digital Images of Final Prototype, Video Clip of Prototype in Action, Design Alternative(s), Detailed Cost Analysis.

– Presentation: ???

• BME 440/441 – Senior Design– Final Paper: May 2006

Acknowledgements

• Special Thanks to:– Dr. Helmut Strey – Department of Biomedical

Engineering, Stony Brook University– Mr. Raul Vargas - BioDynamics Ltd– Mr. David Rabbiner - Rabson Rehab Sales– Mr. Rob Pacheco - ProRhythm– Erin McCormack – PhD Student, Department

of Biomedical Engineering.