UPMC: Heart Reviver Circuit
Through a contact I made in my University of Pittsburgh Bioengineering Course, Medical Product Design, a group of my classmates and I completed design work for a UPMC Heart Surgeon.
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As an individual designer, I was responsible for reporting progressive iterations of the design to the team, using Solidworks, a 3D solid-body modeler, to create these iterations, as well as creation and explanation of modularity presentation material.
Pictured is an early design of the circuit. This was completed as proof of ability before access to full circuit explanation as well as seeing the circuit in action.
The design was quickly improved after meeting with the UPMC doctor. He explained the circuit's function in more detail and my teammates and I got to see the circuit in action. Ethnography of the circuit with the researchers revealed components we hadn't included, such as the blood pump pictured on the right.
Utilizing our improved understanding, we were able to create a concise design while including all necessary components.
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Shown to the left are three modes of the circuit, showing tubes that blood flow occurs through for each in specific coloration.
The final design utilizes concise labeling and SOLIDWORKS assembly techniques. The model is not currently designed with flow analysis in mind and is instead for demonstrative purposes only. The design was used in grant applications and is included in an approved patent.
Here is the patent.
Client Specific Design Constraints:
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Visual Representation: Model is an accurate and decipherable version of the designed circuit.
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Clear and Concise: Model should be easy to follow and understand components.
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Modularity of Circuit: Design and report should clearly show the varying modes contained within the circuit
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Presentation Preparation: Design and report must be created for the sake of grant and patent applications
Client Design Inclusions:​
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Tube Connector is an existing part that is intended for use.
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Blood Pump is an existing system that is intended for use.
Final Design Use Breakdown:
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Design report includes the four modes of use.
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Labels and conservative tube lengths communicate design succinctly.
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Blood Pump and Tube Connectors designed to actual measurements of existing design.
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Design could be used to recreate circuit in real life.
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Lacking solid model of a heart, labeled red and blue ''black boxes' and tubes show connections within the heart.
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Oxygentator represented by labeled "black box."
