A GUIDED TRACHEOSTOMY DEVICE
An independent research internship within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine.
The aim of this project was to develop a guide device that will facilitate a percutaneous tracheostomy for emergency care providers in prehospital airway management.
View my Bioengineering Intramural Internship Final Presentation!
I initiated this project with a proposal to the Swanson School of Engineering, seeking acceptance to the Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (SURI). Once the project was accepted, I was responsible for all project management, with guidance from my mentors, Dr. James Menegazzi and Dr. David Salcido.
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First, I generated a Gantt chart which detailed the twelve-week duration of the project and delineated tasks into five phases. This was crucial in order to keep myself on track and ensure I met my mentors' expectations.
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After numerous hand sketches, low resolution prototypes, and receiving expert feedback, I generated a 3D CAD rendering that met the desired measurement specifications using Autodesk Fusion360.
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Then, I collaborated with the Swanson Center for Product Innovation to properly configure the rendering for manufacturing. This process also involved selecting materials and manufacturing methods.
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The current prototype will potentially be tested for viability and demonstrating proof of concept in Dr. Menegazzi's porcine laboratory.
