Mechanical CPR
 First prototype (half-scale) |  Second prototype, seen at the Investment Round of the Dempsey Startup Competition |  Final prototype |
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 Featured profile on Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship's Instagram for Dempsey Startup Competition |
Mechanical CPR Device for OHCA Cases
Sep 2021 - June 2022
This is my year-long senior capstone project for my Bachelor's degree. In a team of 5, we paired with industry and clinical professionals at Philips Healthcare to design, develop, and prototype a mechanical CPR device as a part of the Engineering Innovation in Health program at the University of Washington. We interviewed multiple experts with experience in mechanical CPR, emergency medicine, and CPR training in order to define the areas of greatest need: rural and low-resource areas and performing CPR during patient transport or in non-ideal situations such on a soft surface or in a cramped space.
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During this project, my team attended the Dempsey Startup Competition and the Holloman Health Innovation Challenge, which were competitions through the business school. I learned a lot about marketing, patenting, FDA testing, and financials of startups, along with researching existing solutions/competitors. I also led the team through the CAD design and 3D printing, improving my teamwork and rapid prototyping skills.
​Results:
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Designed device that performs up to 80 lbs of chest compressions automatically when manual CPR is risky, focusing on reducing cost for rural/low-resource areas
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Invented novel clamshell design that eliminates the need for logrolling the patient, reducing application time by 77.5%
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Expanded size inclusivity by 21.7% and 50.5% in chest width and height
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Addressed unfulfilled needs of first responders with shoulder braces to prevent downward migration, AED + elbow IV compatibility, and rapid removability
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Participated in Startup Competitions: Top 16 at Dempsey Startup Competition + Finalist at Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge
Dempsey Startup Competition:
With our three 3D printed prototypes, we performed mechanical and usability testing to iterate upon our initial conceptual designs. Our device addresses 5 shortcomings that we identified in existing devices:
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1. Easy Application
Using a novel clamshell method inspired by scoop stretchers to secure around the torso without requiring the patient to be lifted or log-rolled, we have been able to apply our device as quickly as 7.43 seconds, more than 20 seconds faster than the competition.
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2. Size Inclusivity
Unlike any other device on the market, our device is adjustable in all three directions—height, width, and depth—accommodating a huge variety of body shapes and sizes. By using ratchet and cam systems to lock the adjustable pieces, our device can fit snugly and securely over nearly every patient.
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3. More Security
Inspired by marching band harnesses, our device has one-size-fits-all rigid shoulder braces that prevent downward migration of the device while it is active. This is a universal problem with current devices on the market that can have devastating consequences, since when the piston migrates downward, it no longer compresses the heart and provides adequate compressions.
Our device also straps to the backboard underneath the patient, providing additional security. Currently, mechanical CPR devices slide around on the smooth plastic backboard, which can dislodge the piston from its proper location and cause the compressions to become ineffective.
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4. AED and IV Compatibility
When someone is in cardiac arrest, it is important to maintain access to the airway for possible intubation and the elbows for IVs. Our arms straps, placed at the base of the device, keep the arms straight and elbows accessible while also keeping the arms secured on the stretcher, and our device doesn’t completely enclose the neck, allowing full access to the head and airway as our device is being placed and removed. Additionally, our product is compatible with an AED—the pads can be placed underneath the crossbar as a precaution for the patient rearresting.
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5. Rapid Removability
To ensure the safety of our patients, our device can be rapidly removed within 2 simple steps—just release the locking mechanism for the arms and slide the entire crossbar up and off.