Tracheostomy Care Overlay SystemJ. Biggs, D. Bond, N. Campagnola, E. Doll, N. Hott

Advisor: Dr. Liyun P. WangSpecial Thanks to: Amy Cowperthwait

UD Healthcare Theatre Program: Simulation laboratories that are operational with real life patient simulators allowing nursing students to experience realistic patient care.

Background

Tracheostomy Care: Cleaning, replacing and suctioning of the tracheostomy tube, changing the dressing around the stoma, as well as cleaning the area around the stoma; all of which require minimal manipulation of the face plate.

Project Scope

The UD Healthcare Theatre Program is looking to improve upon the current training mannequins by developing a wearable system for a real life patient simulator that will provide nursing students with realistic, tracheostomy care patient feedback during simulations.

Design RequirementsThe following six needs are ranked according to importance:

1. Safety 2. Realistic 3. Ease of Use 4. Cost Effective 5. Durable 6. Comfort

Metrics Target Values ReferenceFDA safety regulation

preparationClass 3 testing Appendix A

Number of Trigger Actions 3 Sponsor

Number of Lung Sounds4(clear, mucus, fluid,

collapsed)Sponsor

Location of lung sounds (in)1" radius around 4 standard locations

Testing with Sponsor

Allowable force applied to faceplate (lbs)

2.2 lbsTesting with

SponsorAllowable rotation of

faceplate (deg)4.094 deg from

horizontalTesting with

Sponsor

Simulator notifications cannot be detected by nurse

Yes Sponsor

Installation time (minutes) 10-15 minutesSimulation debriefing

time, Duration of simulation

(minutes)> 20 minutes Sponsor

Final Prototype

Concept Generation

Lung Sound Speakers and Control:

1. Wireless control 2. Wired control

2. Spring and Circuit Sensor:

1. Tactile Force Sensor

Force/Rotation Detection:

Prototype Testing and Validation

To test the design, a prototype of our final concept was built. This prototype allowed for testing of each component as well as system level testing. Additionally, testing was able to be performed with UD Healthcare theatre actors , as well as nursing students and

Customer Survey Review

Survey results showed that it functions well as a learning device, as the sensors identified improper tracheostomy care accurately and the alerts can only be detected by the simulators. For comfort and ease of use, it was found that the device was easy to put on and take off, but that the comfort could be improved upon. Overall, the overlay system was thought to be more realistic, in appearance, than the current training mannequins and will enhance the tracheostomy care learning experience for nursing students.

faculty to provide feedback on how realistic the device is, as well as its comfort and ease of use.

Path Forward

With funding from UD’s First Step Program, the team will continue to work on the overlay system by improving on the current prototype. The team will focus on improving the user interface for lung sound control, while also making the overlay more adaptable to a wider variety of body types. There will also be work done on the sensor system to increase individual sensor accuracy. After improvements have been made, the team will work on making the overlay more marketable with the ultimate goal of producing it on a large scale.

Sensor Threshold Tests

Target threshold values were found through background research and testing with our sponsor

Test Target Value Measured Value

Force on Faceplate 2.2 lbs 2.19 ± 0.08 lbs

Rotation of Faceplate 4.01 deg 5 ± 1 degBronchial Biforcation

Touched - Yes

Wireless control was chosen because it allowed for greater mobility and faster overlay set-up time

Tactile force sensors were used due to the ability to give more accurate sensor readings and calibration

The final design consists of two molded, thermop-lastic layers, encasing and protecting all of the inner components. These inclu-de the sensor system and lung sound speakers. To the right is the entire, assembled prototype. The picture below shows the inner compone-nts of the device.