156B Week 4

Progress Report Week 4

Last week, the sponsor approved the storage tank idea, and provided ideas on the development/design of the insulation layer. From last week's meeting, the team decides to choose silicon as the material for the insulation layer because silicon can self-seal and biocompatible, and non-toxic. The objectives for week 4 are finalized the design parameters of the storage tank and build a prototype for the storage tank with the syringe attached. Also, the team will develop a test on the mass flow of the storage tank and modify its design parameters accordingly. 

Regards to the hollow needles, the team decides to contact the manufacturer, Miracu, to gather more information on the characteristics and the design of the hollow needles such as dimension of the hollow needles cartridge and the strength of the hollow needles. Also, the team will focus on how to attach different components together to form the whole microneedling system (the storage tank, the insulation layer, the hollow needles, and the exterior layer).

We also received the Dr.Pen microneedling device and we plan on opening it up this week to understand more about its working mechanism and then eventually the connection of the disposable system to the pen.

Figure 1: Microneedle system CAD design

Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.

Also, the team will conduct a mass flow rate experiment on testing the fluid flow through the 3D printed storage tank to determine and finalized its characteristics and design parameters (this test scheduled in week 4: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

• • Experimental Setup: the storage tank will be connected with the syringe. Used water as a testing liquid because it has a similar characteristic compared to plasma. Then force will be applied to push the syringe (the weight will be measured and recorded), then the mass flow rate will be recorded and documented. 

  • Setup experiments on testing the behaviors of the needles. The characteristics that the team focuses on, but not limited to, are the depth of the microneddle’s penetration through different objects such as pig-skin or jelly, or something that is similar to the stiffness of the human skin (this test will be scheduled in week 5);

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • • • Micro-needles buckling and deformation force testings

      • Result of the force testing: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PAaeHrKXAhYLiRmO2i6NJRCRf595pJIREfSl0BGpKg4/edit?usp=sharing 

• • • • 3D printing the storage tank and adjust its dimension

Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Use specific and measurable objectives.

• • Finalize the design of the hollow needles attachment to the storage tank (detail circular pattern).

  • Finalize the design parameters of the storage tank (its dimension and storage volume)

  • Explore the Dr. Pen device (open it up)

  • Microneedling device prototype

Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • Aranged weekly meeting to update and assist with the project.

  • Need to focus on hollow needles and agent delivery (no insulation)

  • Design and analyze of the insulation layer (will made from silicon)

Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments  (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • Primary focus was to explore top priorities; talk to the sponsor about it.

  • Force testing for hollow needles deformation point.

  • Silicon insulation layer.

  • Approval of storage tank design idea.

Comments from Other Students in the Class (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

Risks and Areas of Concern

• • The structure or materials of the needles may deform/break during injection.

  • The needles arrangement across the device. 

  • Leakage of agent from the device

  • Interference between hollow needles motion and agent motion

Resources or Information Required but not Available

Schedule

• Ganntt chart link (the chart will be updated): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rsep4Byl5w-ZwaOZbzAgdEkJXQq7UqNQCz2TDspl4I8/edit#gid=0

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• • • $108 Dr.Pen device

    • $8.99 tattoo needles

    • $12.29 Syringes

• • Money left = $3070.72

Progress on Report and Webpage

• • Some sections in the report are completed (please see the report document)