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VitaLung: Cystic Fibrosis Vest

Sept. 2023 - June 2024

Context:

My senior capstone project aimed at designing a significantly less expensive High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillating (HFCWO) Vest to better assist Cystic Fibrosis patients remove viscous mucus from their lungs.

Skills:

  • Pneumatics

  • Solidworks

  • Electronic design

Context:

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes mucus in the lungs to become dehydrated, obstructing airways and a higher frequency of deadly infections. 

  • For those outside the developed world, life expectancy is poor as untreated CF patients rarely make it past their first birthday.

  • In the developed world, one treatment method is by using a vest (HFCWO) that compresses the chest rapidly to expel the mucus from the lungs.

  • While effective, they cost upwards of $15,000 and are nearly impossible to repair by organizations trying to donate older versions to third-world countries. 

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Goal:

  • Create an inexpensive, robust, and easy-to-construct HFCWO vest to be able to provide care to CF patients in need in the USA and around the world. ​​​​​​​​​​​

Photos for iterations, final product, and testing data results:

What I did (technical skills):

  • Tested multiple methods of actuation including small vibration motors, speakers, belt-tightening, and air-pressure-vessel

  • Advised the air unit design to maximize airflow for convective cooling and  120V electrical safety

  • Machined the air unit enclosure and electronic mounting plates

  • Collected system thermal and vibrational data and analyzed it in Python using an FFT and data filtering​

  • Compiled the BOM and created the final 15-page Drawing Package with GD&T (some shown in the photo slide below.)

​What I did (soft skills):​

  • Researched and analyzed existing competitors and their patents

  • Interviewed 13 patients and 2 doctors to determine our product goals

  • Participated in UCSB's New Venture Competition to practice my elevator pitch

  • ​Managed team project finances and facilitated effective team communication
  • Worked ​with 4 others to make the design packet, presentation, and drawing package.
image.png

What I Learned:

  • How to deliver a good elevator pitch

  • Market validation interview management

  • Startup launch finance

  • GD&T for more concise manufacturing drawings

  • How to use a Pugh chart to narrow down ideas

  • Electrical commercial components and standards

  • Pneumatics to actuate soft-bodied vest

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