Roller PATH: A Patient Transfer and Positioning Aid for Medical Imaging Team Members Josh Anders, Leader Megan Buroker, Communicator Alyssa Walsworth, BSAC Betsy Appel, BWIG Prof. Mitch Tyler Client Dr. John D. Enderle Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Connecticut BME 402 Midsemester Presentation February 24, 2006

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Overview Problem Statement Chosen Design Alternative Constructed Prototype (completed Fall ’05) Preliminary Validation Design Additions –Wheel Lock –Track Lock –Patient Immobilizers –Technician Handles –Safety Labels Testing Protocols –Ergonomics and Patient Safety –Mechanical Stress and Material Strength –Imaging Environment Compatibility Final Design Deliverables

Problem Statement Patient positioning limitations onto and within medical imaging devices, which may include the initial patient transfer and/or maintaining static positioning during data acquisition and measurement, have rendered many individuals with disabilities unable to benefit from imaging technologies. LightSpeed VCT PET/CT Hybrid 1.5T MR gehealthcare.com

Chosen Design Alternative: Roller PATH PATH – Patient Aid Transfer Help Three piece design –Transfer bed –Imaging track –Hospital bed track Transfer bed –Two columns of wheels –Rolls from track to track by aligning stretcher and imaging bed Static aid incorporated into mattress Wheel and track locks included for patient safety

Chosen Design Alternative (cont.)

Constructed Prototype Final Dimensions –Research Statistical Means –74 ¼” x 22” x 3 ¼” Materials –HDPE frame –Nylon screws, wheels, and axels –Vinyl mattress pad cover –Foam padding Construction completed by team and Midland Plastics Total Expenses: $850.60

Preliminary Validation Imaging Validation –Rationale: verify that materials cause no significant artifact –Result: no noticeable artifact in CT environment (displayed on ensuing slide) Patient Transfer Validation –Rationale: verify a safe and comfortable transfer –Result: safe and comfortable transfer of team member

Design Additions Wheel Locks –Groove allows small HPDE piece to slide in on both sides of the wheel Track Locks –HDPE piece spans the track joint –Plate screwed in on either side of track

Design Additions (cont.) Patient Immobilizers –Neck foam for adult, pediatric and neonatal from Contour Fabricators Inc. Medical Solutions –Nylon strap and release buckle for immobilizing arms and legs Two straps on each limb From REI –Industrial strength Velcro ® from Ace Hardware

Design Additions (cont.) Technician Handles –Molded plastic –Metallic components removed through drilling Safety Labels

Testing Protocols Mechanical Stress and Material Strength –Goal: Ensure material can withstand maximum weight –Expected Results: Properties are consistent under loading Ergonomics and Patient Safety –Goal: Test the overall ease and comfort of the transfer –Expected Results: Successful, safe transfer Imaging Environment Compatibility –Goal: Quantify artifact in all modalities –Expected Results: Resulting images appropriate for radiological analysis

Mechanical Stress and Material Strength Place weights on bed, distributed according to anthropometric table –Maximum load failure analysis: deflection taken at maximum load –Hysteresis: deflection measurements compared between loading and unloading –Creep: weights left on table for two minutes, measure change in deflection over time

Ergonomics and Patient Safety Protocol –Recruit test patients –Informed consent required –Remove wheel locks and transfer patient from hospital bed track to imaging bed track and back –Measure force required to complete transfer –Ask patient and technician to rate comfort and safety

Imaging Environment Compatibility Testing done in X-ray, CT, MR and PET imaging environments to quantify artifacts –Test in each environment with and without the table –Testing done with phantoms –Quantitatively evaluate scans based on SNR and compare scans –Have radiologist determine quality of scan

Final Design Deliverable and Future Work Conduct validation testing Outreach –Madison West High School –Senior course in Healthcare Professions Journal Article Patent submission to WARF National Design Competition –Final paper –Video of construction, validation, and patient trials accompanied with audio support –Webpage Final Considerations for Marketability

References Computed Tomography. GE Healthcare Contour Fabricators Inc. Medical Solutions CSP Medical Student Design Competition. RERC on AMI Webster, John (ed). Bioinstrumentation. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. USA: 2004.

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