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UCSD Cough Simulator

(Pathogen Detection Breathalyzer)

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A device that accurately mimics a human cough

Executive Summary

This project serves as a narrowed scope focus after the initial ideal goal of manufacturing a pathogen breathalyzer. However, with the limited resources available, including both time and finance, the project has been narrowed and the team tasked with creating a control system to be used for testing during the design of the actual pathogen breathalyzer. 

This project, sponsored by Austin Swafford and the Center for Microbiome Innovation, will prove to be a crucial step closer to innovation in direction of microparticle and biological particle travel analysis. In order to develop a product such as a pathogen breathalyzer, there must exist some safe, controlled, method to test the device – hence, the coughing simulator. The product will drastically reduce human error on the control end of the experiment, promoting the potential for accurate and reliable laboratory results.

This device features an Arduino controlled electric solenoid valve that exacts an appropriate amount of pressure to facilitate in actuating a modeled cough. However, the nebulizer technology that this apparatus ultimately relies on is paramount to its function. Its ability to atomize a liquid sample into droplets on a microscopic level is what leads to the success of the coughing simulator. As pressurized air is funneled through the system, the particles produced by the nebulizer is expelled in a manner very similar to a human cough.

Through risk reduction testing and several design iterations, the team successfully created a device that could create droplet sizes well within the targeted range of cough droplets. The components of this device are relatively inexpensive and can be replaced easily. Contamination factors were taken into consideration and the apparatus features a disposable nebulizer component, itself very inexpensive, in order to prevent a failed experiment due to unreliable data.

Ideally, all of the components in this device will be enclosed in a chassis that allows for simple and ergonomic user interaction in adjusting the settings. Through repeated testing and experimentation, a Data Sheet will be developed that contains characteristic information regarding the cough simulator. This Data Sheet will undoubtedly be useful in providing consumers with guidelines to choosing settings for particular "coughs" or "breaths".

Though there exist previous design solutions for a coughing simulator, the goal of this project was to consolidate and simplify the hardware as well as make the device more portable and easy to use. In utilizing FDA technology in 3D-printing many of the parts, it is possible to adjust the device if consumer needs require it. This coughing simulator features innovation aimed at laboratory scientists and researchers to provide an effective and reliable device for any future advancement.

Presentations

Prototypes and Testing Results

Droplets were collected on the transparent PMMA plate and observed under 40X Amscope. 

Screenshots were taken and using circle measuring tool to measure the droplet size.