December 21, 2022

Students in the Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering conclude their coursework with a group capstone project. With these projects, students apply what they’ve learned in their classes and work together to study real world challenges and offer recommendations to those problems.

The experience gives students the hands-on preparation they need to be successful after graduation.

Chemical engineering students complete the American Institute of Chemical Engineers student design competition as their capstone project. This year’s subject was to design a pyoil purification system and provide possible solutions for the improvement of the Bali waste sorting facilities.

The group created a plant design model that used only one distillation tower instead of multiple towers to save costs. The design was powered using utilities of cooling water, high pressure steam, low pressure steam and electricity.

They also recommended the Bali facility can be improved through enhanced local marketing to improve participation of the waste collection program and place a greater emphasis on waste pre-sorting on a participant level.

Biomedical and biological students worked in groups to design devices or systems for biomedical or biological processes.

One group created a customizable prototype for dressing vacuum-assisted closures that are used to treat traumatic wounds. The prototype needed to fit all hand sizes, use existing sponge material, compatible with existing vacuum technology, reduce the current application time and reduce the number of leaks between the hand and adhesive cover.

Their completed design decreased application time by 75% but had small leaks. However, they believe professional manufacturing of the prototype, allowing the sponge to be built in once piece, would eliminate these leaks.

Another group developed a device to measure the Capillary Refill time (CRT) of pediatric patients objectively, consistently and precisely. The final device was a cellphone-based system that allows the imaging of a patient’s finger or forehead from a user’s personal mobile device.

The rigid phone holder provides consistency between tests and proper lighting for CRT measurements. The device includes JavaScript-based software to administer tests, analyze tissue images and compute and display CRT results in seconds. It is compatible with current handheld devices and only costs $1 to produce.

Below are the full capstone projects from the Fall 2022 semester. Take a few moments to learn how biomedical, biological and chemical engineers develop solutions to engineering problems.

Chemical Capstone
Group: Pyoil Purification Unit Design
Team Members: Nia Jones, Jackson Martin, Ryan McCarthy, Duc Nguyen and Yafu Zhong
Objective: Find an inexpensive, functional design for a pyoil purification process while appropriately managing safety risks

Biomedical/Biological Capstones
Group: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Team Members: Kellan Boehm, Jessica Estep, Jackson Pfender and Sam Weiss
Objective: Develop a prototype of dressing material for vacuum-assisted closures that is easily customizable, shortens application time and provides a better seal for irregularly shaped wounds

Group: Pediatric Capillary Refill Time
Team Members: Isabel Banks, Morgan Parmeley, Zach Glover and Zach Loschinskey
Objective: Develop a cellphone-based system to measure Capillary Refill Time of children consistently and precisely

Group: Isoflurane Detection and System Optimization
Team Members: Olivia Burken, Joseph Calacal, Kate Whitmore, Hirut Suraphel and Sam Burnes
Objective: Improve upon an isoflurane scavenging system to eliminate leakage into the surrounding area and create a portable detection and alerting device to alert surgeons of high isoflurane levels

Group: Accurate Blood Volume Counter
Team Members: Nolan Deckard, Wes Goodwin, Bren Mastio and Theo Lewis
Objective: Design an accurate blood loss counter device that is able to account for all substance flow through medical suction

Group: Accurate Wound Volume Measurement
Team: Natalie Bode, Obaro Emeje, Johnathan Stokes and Daniel Koku
Objective: Develop a universal device that can measure the area and volume of a wound without affecting the healing process

Group: ALS Adaptive Fishing Rod
Team: Hunter Bushnell, Kate Zawalski, Madi Hassler and Rebecca Croon
Objective: Design an apparatus that can cast a bait and hook at least thirty feel and requires minimal physical exertion

Group: Aortic Valve Scaffolding
Team: Collin Jaegers, Mario Tran, Sage Decker, Kelly Yazdi and Yuriy Snyder
Objective: Create a mold that can be wrapped with biomaterials to create scaffolding and fit the curves and components of a healthy aortic heart valve

Group: Biodegradable Plastic Process
Team: Halle Reach, Alex Bielefeldt, Annie Casburn and Mori Hodel
Objective: Develop a process to sustainably produce biodegradable plastic

Group: Modified Mask for a Black Cat Pulse Oximeter
Team: Katie Bagley, Julie Soncodi and Claire Gray
Objective: Create a pulse oximeter that can take accurate readings for cats of all pigmentations and fur types

Group: Cleft Palate Baby Bottle Flow Regulator
Team: Noah Schultz, Abby DeVrieze and Mina Cloud
Objective: Design a baby bottle flow regulator for babies with cleft palates

Group: DNA-Based Processing and Memory
Team: Samuel Leung, Madalyn Graham, Madelynn Frappier and Brianna Abam
Objective: Create a DNA long probe that DNA staples are able to hybridize to

Group: Electromyography and Muscle Stimulator
Team: Jacob Beavers, Daniel Chausse, David Hofstetter and Folashewa Shofu
Objective: Develop an EMG/Stim device with a dial and good audible speaker all while protecting auditory tones for muscle stimulation and stimulating the muscle using disposable cables

Group: 3D Anatomical Craniofacial Model
Team: Mykaela Reiland, Paige Miller, Christian Ludtke and Leandra Mangual Duran
Objective: Create a realistic 3D craniofacial model to allow surgery residents to practice their skills and see what a patient would look like after craniofacial surgery

Group: Small Plot Programmable Irrigation System
Team: Micah Franklin, Morgan Hanley, Noah Signaigo and Anton Sokolic
Objective: Develop an automated or semi-automated design to optimize irrigation design for reliable water flow, improve user regulation and adjust for environmental impacts