As a senior in mechanical engineering, I am part of a group tasked with designing a medical device to determine patient weight during cardiac arrest, allowing us to determine the proper energy level to deliver in defibrillator shocks. We researched various methods to estimate weight across different age groups, brainstormed ideas, and are currently managing the manufacturing of our prototypes. I was particularly drawn to this project as it allowed me to apply my mechanical engineering skills and interest in medical devices into a potentially lifesaving solution. I found the experience of navigating the design process, from problem identification to production, immensely rewarding as I am witnessing our team synthesize diverse ideas into a cohesive solution. Despite initially being unfamiliar with the medical device domain, I successfully made meaningful contributions that aligned with my expertise, which is a skill invaluable to me as an engineer that I can apply to future roles. 

This project marks the culmination of my undergraduate engineering education, challenging me to apply everything I have learned about product development. Given my background, I took on responsibilities based in manufacturing and production. I am guiding my team members within my area of expertise, while also broadening my understanding of other aspects of product design by assisting them in return. Collaboration ensures efficient teamwork and collective satisfaction with our decisions and efforts. Leveraging my connections and knowledge of biomechanics from previous classes, I contributed effectively to our research discussions. As someone aspiring to pursue a healthcare-adjacent career, this project deepened my understanding of medical device development and reignited my passion for this field. 

• Won the "Best Product for Patient Safety" award at the 2024 Holloman Health Innovation Challenge

• Presented product and prototype to 100+ clinicians, investors, and FDA administrators

• Illustrated integration of our device into the AED workflow through diagrams

• Coordinated manufacturing and material sourcing for prototypes

• Interviewed five emergency responders and medical consultants to explore preexisting solutions for our problem

• Researched developmental changes in children and adults relevant to weight estimation in emergencies

Our project aimed to develop a medical device ensuring accurate defibrillation voltage doses for cardiac arrest patients. After extensive research on defibrillation history, voltage dosing, and associated risks, I focused on child development rates for 5-10 year olds. I utilized growth charts to analyze height versus weight patterns within this age group, which falls within the pediatric-adult cusp for defibrillation needs. Narrowing our focus allowed tailored research to optimize medical care for this specific population. We synthesized our research to formulate a comprehensive problem statement and product requirements, addressing the needs of both patients and emergency responders. This way, we can carry forward with idea generation and development with confidence in our ability to best serve the medical needs of millions of patients. 

In our team meetings, we aimed to streamline brainstorming to ensure equal participation and efficiency. I proposed a method where everyone had time to quietly jot down ideas on sticky notes, followed by a vote on preferred ideas. This accelerated idea generation, simplified idea explanations, and facilitated equal contribution in the decision making process. We condensed around 50 ideas into our top seven choices within an hour. This method provided a visual representation of the preferred methods of the team and enabled us to swiftly eliminate unfeasible or unfavored ideas, leading to a final concept that satisfied all team members.

In the brainstorming phase, I leveraged my knowledge body/limb height and weight ratios and child growth rates to propose ideas for estimating patient weight without significant collateral damage. After our initial brainstorm, we realized any one of our ideas ranked at or sub par to preexisting solutions on the market. I suggested combining methods for higher accuracy in body weight measurements. We integrated these ideas into a final prototype, ensuring a more reliable solution than existing alternatives while still maintaining simplicity for emergency responders of any skill level. 

With my extensive background in manufacturing, I became the manufacturing specialist within our team and assessed the manufacturability of different designs. I collaborate closely with our materials and design specialist to ensure compatibility between our design choices and manufacturing feasibility. Drawing from prior experiences in marketing and social media management, I emphasized our device's capabilities and compared it to existing competitors for our 2024 Holloman Health Innovation Challenge business proposal. Despite not having a finalized solution at the time of submission, our proposal earned us a place in the final round and ultimately a prize.

I began my research with my teammates by delving into academic papers analyzing developmental trends in children aged 5-10. While my degree is mechanical engineering, my elective coursework concentrates in biomechanics provided additional insights. I consulted professors and past coursework, honing in on growth charts to focus on torso measurements for their consistency across demographics. This approach enabled me to contribute greatly during our research phase in combination with academic literature and expert advice.

This experienced significantly enhanced my understanding of the research and idea generation stages in the design process, particularly with healthcare product development. As someone aspiring to specialize in prosthetics and related devices, I recognize the invaluable application of this knowledge in my future career. I have developed proficiency in facilitating meetings and streamlining brainstorming sessions, both essential for leading any research and design endeavors. Previously lacking in practical design and research experience, this opportunity provided me with knowledge on navigating the early stages of product development. I am eager to mentor fellow engineers who may share similar concerns as I did prior to this project. Overall, this experience boosted my confidence in assuming design and research roles, as well as improving my engineering skill set, which will undoubtedly support my post-graduate career.