Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.
A rough sketch of the initial design has been made
A SolidWorks drawing of the preliminary design of the chamber
Locations are reserved for tube connections to lungs and chamber.
Drainage system for solutions flowing out of the chamber is included in the drawing.
Detailed analysis of the design is now being conducted prior to fabrication
Depends on the size of the tubes, flow rate of the solution will be estimated.
Cost of the materials involves for fabrication.
Accomplishments from Previous Week
Found out the actual size of the mouse lung
Witnessed our sponsor harvest the lung and plug in all tube connections
Created a preliminary design of the system
Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Use specific and measurable objectives.
Paul - Refining the design of chamber prototype
Current design for lung reservoir only accounts for inlet and outlet of culture medium and location of lung.
Need to integrate helper hands for trachea connection and design to include connection (tubing and needle) for saline solution into pulmonary arteries via the heart.
Jordan - Deciding and possible ordering the tubing adapters and connectors
Tubing will be ideally connected from outside of chamber and removable so correct size and good price of tubing adapters need to be found online.
Tubing could possibly be attained from sponsor's lab, eliminating the need to purchase any tubing.
Jasmine - Designing, improving, and incorporating drainage and tilting system into the prototype.
Drainage issue arrives from the fact that saline solution is likely to leak from lung into culture medium and sponsor stated that he wanted to this to be removed, so a flow of culture medium into lung reservoir will be present to dilute this issue.
Question is where waste solution will be dumped and exactly how to get it out and away from chamber.
Will - Researching into amount and type of helper hands to be used, as well as possible inclusion of having magnifying glass to help connecting the trachea.
Helper hands would be used to keep connections for trachea in place while being attached and during imaging.
Will be adjustable
Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)
The heart will be attached to the lung during imaging. In addition, lungs will stay inflated and remain still during imaging.
The fluid inside the chamber will be a solution instead of water, most likely some cell culture medium.
Sponsor gave us one of the tubes used to attach to the trachea
There needs to be an easier way to connect the tube to the lung since the trachea is so small. The trachea and the pulmonary artery, along with the lung, must be held in place somehow in the chamber. The pin attached to the tube should also have an area where it clicks into place. Finally, the process of connecting the two together should be made easy (as opposed to tying a string).
The chamber must have a drainage system for the fluid. Once solutions pass through lungs, they can not be used again. A reservoir will be included for the tainted solution. Additionally, there should be a constant, steady inflow of solutions into the chamber and lungs.
Tubing will remain in the chamber for repeated usage.
All the controls equipment necessary are already made and do not need to be altered.
They already have the equipment needed to maintain the temperature of the chamber solution.
Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)
Suggested that we look into spring clamps
Tubes are probably made of silicone
Comments from Other Students in the Class (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)
None
Risks and Areas of Concern
The biggest risk is fabricating the parts since they are very small, need to be bio-compatible and must be water tight.
stability of trachea and saline connections to the lungs
Concept of using helper hands to hold the tubes in place is still being developed.
Location of the mount will depend on the final design of the chamber.
The lung clamping mechanism is still in concept developing phase due to various factors that require careful consideration.
Clamps have to be small and adjustable so they can be used for any size or shape of lungs and yet not in the way of objective.
Clamps have to made from soft material so they do not damage the lungs.
They have to be bio-compatible and able to withstand temperature of 37 degree in cell culture medium (or any other kind of solutions they will be exposed to).
Resources or Information Required but not Available
None
Schedule
Describe upcoming milestone
Update Gantt chart.
Research more into clamping mechanism
Possible method: use of helper hands similar to those used in soldering.
Begin fabrication of the chamber prototype
Method of fabrication: 3D Printing
Developing all connections to both lungs and chamber.
Different locations and connections will have to be developed and considered for each solutions and air.
Purchasing Parts for the tubing connections
Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)
Bought
Nothing
Total spent for the week: $0
Total spent to date: $12.59
Amount remaining: $487.41
Progress on Report and Webpage
Team contact page has been completed.