Group 3
Redesign of the IV Pump Clamp
Goal: Intravenous therapy pumps, known as IV pumps, are used by professionals heavily in the medical industry due to their ability to provide specified amounts of fluids to patients. The IV pumps must be transferred around the hospital from the patient's bed to various locations. Nurses hold the heavy IV pump up while unscrewing the current clamps, often with one hand. The current clamps used to hold the IV pumps on IV stands are C-clamps. This process is cumbersome and in need of remediation. Our objective is to find a way to simplify the transfer of the IV pump to and from the IV stand so that nurses and health care professionals do not have to struggle with this task during patient transfer.
This video here demonstrates the current process nurses undertake in order to move an IV pump from pole to pole. While holding up the IV pump with one hand, the other hand twists the c-clamp to unclamp it from the pole. Then while still holding the IV pump with one hand, the nurse transfers it to another pole and clamps the IV pump again. This process can take up to 40 seconds.
Following research and deliberations, the final prototype was chosen. It is a straightforward clamping mechanism utilizing a c-clamp to attach the two-piece system to the pole and a locking mechanism to keep the two-piece system together. The final prototype was decided to be 3D printed in NylonX, a nylon-carbon fiber filament known for its lightweight and strength.
The video here demonstrates the same nurse moving the IV pump with the new clamp method, but one that does not have the locking mechanism. The process is significantly reduced. Even with the additional seconds that adding the locking mechanism adds to the process, this method is still quicker.
The video here is an animation of how the current prototype interacts with the IV pump and pole.
Poster
Team03_Poster_DRAFT.pdfMeet The Team
Maraam Almedar
Biomechanics Depth area - Functioned as secretary and worked with verification testing
Tim Hostetler
Biomechanis Depth area - Functioned as team leader and worked with 3D design
Tyler Johnson
Biomaterials Depth area - Functioned as meeting manager and worked with MATLAB analysis
Meet Our Sponsor
Brian Overshiner
Tim Nisi
Brain and Tim work in the 3D Innovations Lab at IU Health and gave us a great deal of help throughout this project.
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Tim, Brian, Thawng, Bryce, Nolan, Raghav Dr. Miller, and Dr. Smith, for their continued support and guidance throughout this process.