Final Design

Ramp

Components

Supporting Slat Material:

Polycarbonate was the best choice for the final design because compared to other possibilities such as wood, acrylic, and stainless steel, it was inexpensive, easily sanitizable, lightweight, resistant to fatigue, easy to machine, and permissible in a hospital setting.

Raising Mechanism: 

VariLoc Locking Hinges were decided upon because of their straightforward and simple design. Spring loaded buttons allow for users to simply push the button on both sides of the ramp, lift or lower the ramp to the desired angle, and release. Other designs considered were pipe clamps and scissor lifts, but they were deemed too bulky and not intuitive to use. Although these hinges are designed for two-handed control, it is aesthetically pleasing, compact, and minimalist.

Cushioning: 

Neoprene Foam Rubber was chosen for its inexpensiveness and low impact on the environment. Although it is porous and therefore difficult to sanitize, the ramp cover protects the ramp from contamination due to bodily fluids and other cases. The other possibility, polyurethane foam, was expensive and unnecessary for the purposes of this project. 

Cover: 

Clear Vinyl was preferred due to its low cost, recyclability, and ease of custom fabrication. It it also transparent which allows for easy view of the hinge tick marks, which are the method of measuring and setting the ramp angles. Clear silicone rubber and non-woven polyester were several other design considerations, but were ultimately passed over because of their expensive nature or non-availability in small amounts.

Angle Measurement: 

Hinge Tick Marks were chosen as the method of measuring the angle largely because it was the most inexpensive option. The requirement of the angle readout had a lower priority; therefore, the largest factor in the decision was cost. The digital lever was ruled out because of the cost, and the baseline goniometer required additional attachment methods, whereas the hinge tick marks fulfilled the basic requirement with no extra fabrication or assembly.

Laryngoscope

Components

Guidance Tunnel:

This cylindrical tunnel provides the path for the tube to slide into the trachea easily. The attachment acts as a stable wall, allowing the tube to achieve a greater stiffness without the use of a metal tube stylet. A stylet currently acts as a stiffener; however, it also increases the chance of puncturing the infant's tissue or throat. The guidance tunnel prevents the tube from bending when the tip reaches an obstacle, and allows for the user to follow through without the added risk of puncture. The front part of the guidance tunnel is also angled so that the entire blade can be pulled out of the infant's small mouth easily without snagging the lip.

Curved Backboard:

The backboard pushes the tongue out of the way to directly visualize the infant's vocal cords, and it is curved so that the user has the largest range of visualization. Optimizing the visualization of the vocal cords is crucial in dramatically increasing the user's rate of success. 

Blade-to-Handle Attachment: 

This attachment allows for the blade to be clipped onto the handle directly and to allow the fiber optic light to pass through.

Fiber Optic Light Support:

This ring directs and secures the fiber optic light tube, to translate the light source from the handle to the tip of the blade. This light source is vital in providing light into the mouth of patients; without it, medical professionals would not be able to see the vocal cords to perform the intubation procedure.