Automated Wear Testing System for Surgical Instruments
Team Members:
Iris Zaretzki
Sujit Tunuguntla
James Gow, Jr.
Mentors:
Bryan Nguyen
Derek Changsrivong
Abstract
Surgical instruments and products can undergo many unexpected mechanical wear conditions during their lifetime, through transportation, intended use, and improper use. NuVasive is a leader in the development of spinal and surgical technologies. To improve the lifetime and manufacturing of their products, they seek to collect data to better understand how these factors contribute to wear. Our project addresses this need through the design and fabrication of a wear testing platform that integrates with NuVasive’s mechanical testing frames. The design utilizes a simplified 3D motion system that propagates a central platform across a system of perpendicular threaded rods. Future directions include improving user experience, refining the prototype, testing and validation, expanding motion paths for wear testing, and position tracking of the platform.
Abet Addendum
Iris Zaretzki
James Gow, Jr.
Sujit Tunuguntla
Team Member 4
The Team