Where are we now?
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23 Finalizing
This week, we completed building the hardware prototype, as well as updated and finalized code to work with the spine data we gathered from Dr. Hong Chen’s ultrasound lab. The code works not only with our data, but with sample spine ultrasound images sourced from others’ work. For the final prototype, we analyzed risk with the DesignSafe template, and created user manuals to guide orthotists on proper use procedures. To improve ease of understanding directions, we included pictures of the hardware in use, and two options for software editing were used to give the orthotist more control over processing speed.
22 Gel Patches and Human Data
This week, we created a gel patch with similar acoustic properties to soft tissue in order to improve ultrasound transducer contact with the spine. Using this method, we successfully captured images that show spine location. Code will need to be altered to track position changes over a course of images, rather than within a single image. Next, we will be creating more gels for subsequent image gathering and a phantom torso for comparison to experimental biological data. Georgia has made progress in constructing the torso positioning device, however she will need access to more precise power tools in order to complete the design. We will next be numbering parts and detailing construction through pictures and simulated diagrams to include in our final report.
21 Transducer Contact Issues
This week, Kylie and Amanda worked with ultrasound imaging at the medical school to determine the best method of obtaining images of the spine. Incomplete transducer contact due to natural ridges in the back caused difficulties in imaging, so this weekend we plan to create a gel “sleeve” for the transducer to allow complete contact. We will use this sleeve next Tuesday to improve the quality of our images. Georgia purchased the necessary supplies for the positioning device, for which construction began on Friday and will be completed by Monday. We will be recording our steps in the building process via notes and pictures to track progress and provide references for our written report.
20 Bill of Materials
This week, Kylie began working with the Washington University medical school to test the ultrasound portion of the project. This equipment will be used to assess our code, specify measurement methodology for orthotists, and film a demo for our final presentation. Georgia looked at parts available and incorporated the available parts into her design for the spine positioning device. Amanda looked at materials for the phantom torso and how to put it together.
19 Prototyping Schedule
This week, we reviewed our Validation & Verification report and discussed our options to address concerns raised. To hold ourselves accountable for weekly progress, we created a set of deadlines for prototype milestones and testing procedures for the rest of the semester. We also created a plan for building a poster presentation and discussed our demo possibilities. Georgia and Amanda will next begin building the full-size positioning device, and Kylie will be working with ultrasound to decide the best way to incorporate software with the hardware.
18 Preparing for Validation and Verification
At the beginning of the week, the code that had been created to identify markers in raw ultrasound data was edited and refined. In addition, Georgia created electronic sketches of the different design alternatives for the board with tracks as well as the gliding pressure pads. The remainder of the week was spent writing and editing the verification and validation report.
17 Refining
This week, our team worked on sketches for the design and what information is needed for determining the Cobb Angle (what markers we need to look out for). We still need to figure out how to incorporate these markers into the code to provide a meaningful evaluation for orthotists.
16 Verification Plans
This week, our team met to discuss the project specifications detailed last semester and plans to quantify our success for each point. Precision and accuracy remain our most difficult to measure, and currently we plan to create a tissue phantom with a model spine of known curvature to measure the accuracy of our system. Amanda made an orthotist contact, which will be crucial to our product’s validation. Kylie used MATLAB image processing extensions to identify markers in sample ultrasound data, and her next step is to create code that measures distance and angles between these markers.
15 Detailed Designs, Continued
Georgia Redd continued to sketch out idea for the positioning device as well as the pressure pads that will constructed. A focus was put on how the positioning devices would be secured as well as the pressure pads. Amanda and Kylie began working on verification testing plans for the proposed design specifications.
14 Detailed Designs
This week, Amanda researched materials that accurately represent the acoustic reflection of bone to use in a phantom torso. We plan to use a model with a known curvature to test the accuracy of the ultrasound device, as it would be difficult to quantify with a human spine as the test subject. Kylie developed code to process raw ultrasound data into high-contrast images, and is now working with the sample data set to find a method of identifying markers based on brightness level. Georgia drew out rough sketches of several design options as well as created an Excel spreadsheet to list the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed method of design.
13 Gathering Tools
This week, we developed a list of tasks that must be accomplished before the validation and verification report and the final prototype demo. We then created a schedule with deadlines to track our progress and timeliness throughout the semester, including weekly meetings to update other team members. Kylie is working with the Image Processing Toolbox for MatLab and pre-existing images to become more familiar with the software and its capabilities. Georgia and Amanda will need access to the machine shop and machine orientation. Georgia spoke with Margaret Garet about who to talk to in order to learn how to use the machines in the machine shop. In addition, both Amanda and Georgia spoke with Caryn Devaney about learning how to use the machine shop tools.
This week, we completed building the hardware prototype, as well as updated and finalized code to work with the spine data we gathered from Dr. Hong Chen’s ultrasound lab. The code works not only with our data, but with sample spine ultrasound images sourced from others’ work. For the final prototype, we analyzed risk with the DesignSafe template, and created user manuals to guide orthotists on proper use procedures. To improve ease of understanding directions, we included pictures of the hardware in use, and two options for software editing were used to give the orthotist more control over processing speed.
22 Gel Patches and Human Data
This week, we created a gel patch with similar acoustic properties to soft tissue in order to improve ultrasound transducer contact with the spine. Using this method, we successfully captured images that show spine location. Code will need to be altered to track position changes over a course of images, rather than within a single image. Next, we will be creating more gels for subsequent image gathering and a phantom torso for comparison to experimental biological data. Georgia has made progress in constructing the torso positioning device, however she will need access to more precise power tools in order to complete the design. We will next be numbering parts and detailing construction through pictures and simulated diagrams to include in our final report.
21 Transducer Contact Issues
This week, Kylie and Amanda worked with ultrasound imaging at the medical school to determine the best method of obtaining images of the spine. Incomplete transducer contact due to natural ridges in the back caused difficulties in imaging, so this weekend we plan to create a gel “sleeve” for the transducer to allow complete contact. We will use this sleeve next Tuesday to improve the quality of our images. Georgia purchased the necessary supplies for the positioning device, for which construction began on Friday and will be completed by Monday. We will be recording our steps in the building process via notes and pictures to track progress and provide references for our written report.
20 Bill of Materials
This week, Kylie began working with the Washington University medical school to test the ultrasound portion of the project. This equipment will be used to assess our code, specify measurement methodology for orthotists, and film a demo for our final presentation. Georgia looked at parts available and incorporated the available parts into her design for the spine positioning device. Amanda looked at materials for the phantom torso and how to put it together.
19 Prototyping Schedule
This week, we reviewed our Validation & Verification report and discussed our options to address concerns raised. To hold ourselves accountable for weekly progress, we created a set of deadlines for prototype milestones and testing procedures for the rest of the semester. We also created a plan for building a poster presentation and discussed our demo possibilities. Georgia and Amanda will next begin building the full-size positioning device, and Kylie will be working with ultrasound to decide the best way to incorporate software with the hardware.
18 Preparing for Validation and Verification
At the beginning of the week, the code that had been created to identify markers in raw ultrasound data was edited and refined. In addition, Georgia created electronic sketches of the different design alternatives for the board with tracks as well as the gliding pressure pads. The remainder of the week was spent writing and editing the verification and validation report.
17 Refining
This week, our team worked on sketches for the design and what information is needed for determining the Cobb Angle (what markers we need to look out for). We still need to figure out how to incorporate these markers into the code to provide a meaningful evaluation for orthotists.
16 Verification Plans
This week, our team met to discuss the project specifications detailed last semester and plans to quantify our success for each point. Precision and accuracy remain our most difficult to measure, and currently we plan to create a tissue phantom with a model spine of known curvature to measure the accuracy of our system. Amanda made an orthotist contact, which will be crucial to our product’s validation. Kylie used MATLAB image processing extensions to identify markers in sample ultrasound data, and her next step is to create code that measures distance and angles between these markers.
15 Detailed Designs, Continued
Georgia Redd continued to sketch out idea for the positioning device as well as the pressure pads that will constructed. A focus was put on how the positioning devices would be secured as well as the pressure pads. Amanda and Kylie began working on verification testing plans for the proposed design specifications.
14 Detailed Designs
This week, Amanda researched materials that accurately represent the acoustic reflection of bone to use in a phantom torso. We plan to use a model with a known curvature to test the accuracy of the ultrasound device, as it would be difficult to quantify with a human spine as the test subject. Kylie developed code to process raw ultrasound data into high-contrast images, and is now working with the sample data set to find a method of identifying markers based on brightness level. Georgia drew out rough sketches of several design options as well as created an Excel spreadsheet to list the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed method of design.
13 Gathering Tools
This week, we developed a list of tasks that must be accomplished before the validation and verification report and the final prototype demo. We then created a schedule with deadlines to track our progress and timeliness throughout the semester, including weekly meetings to update other team members. Kylie is working with the Image Processing Toolbox for MatLab and pre-existing images to become more familiar with the software and its capabilities. Georgia and Amanda will need access to the machine shop and machine orientation. Georgia spoke with Margaret Garet about who to talk to in order to learn how to use the machines in the machine shop. In addition, both Amanda and Georgia spoke with Caryn Devaney about learning how to use the machine shop tools.
12 Choosing a Solution
This week, as a team we brainstormed ideas for solutions to our initial problem. From these alternative solutions, we developed a Pugh chart and scored each design alternative using the weighted design specifications. Since our design required three separate types of parts, we developed three Pugh charts for each part needed. From these three Pugh charts, we were able to see which solution scored the highest and chose this as our designated solution. We then established a cutoff score for our design alternatives and begun writing our progress report based on the solutions that surpassed that cutoff score. In addition, we found that MS Wong at Hong Kong Polytechnic University has pursued solutions to this problem and conducted research on his solutions so as to better understand all of the problems that our solutions must solve.
10 Brainstorming Solutions
This week, each team member spent time individually brainstorming solutions for a maximum diversity in initial ideas. We then met as a group on Thursday and compiled our brainstorming, as well as used each other's’ ideas as inspiration for new concepts. We have separated our solutions into 3 categories: spine position monitoring involving direct imaging of the spine, indirect spine position monitoring, and positioning devices that allow precise spine readjustment. We have scheduled follow-up meetings on both Saturday and Monday to come up with our final list of options and use our Pugh chart to determine the best option. Currently, we have 25 distinct solutions, with that number increasing when considering the different combinations of monitoring and positioning devices. We aim to grow and solidify this list on Saturday, and use insights from our coming meeting with Sylvia Czuppon and Patricia McGee to justify our spec rankings in our Pugh chart.
09 Metrics and New Perspectives
This week, Amanda contacted Sylvia Czuppon and Patricia McGee, physical therapists working with scoliosis at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. We have arranged a meeting for next week to discuss needs from a therapist’s perspective, as they work with patients after braces have been prescribed and designed. At a meeting on Monday morning, we revised our need statement to specify our intended audience as orthotists, so that it now reads: Orthotists are in need of an accurate way to determine changes in spine position from external body adjustments for more efficient scoliosis brace design. This adjustment will be discussed with our mentor to obtain any further advice in needed clarification. We have also adjusted our methods of evaluating success accordingly, narrowing our specifications to reflect the effects of our product on orthotists’ work and lives. Finally, we performed research using national databases to define metrics for the population who will interact with our device.
08 Clarifying Audience
This week, we met with Professor Klaesner to discuss our design specs, final intentions for the project, and potential resources in the scoliosis field. We realized that our intended audience was unclear from our initial need statement, and we are now deciding between orthotists and scoliosis patients as the basis for our specifications. This will also help us determine what tests we will need to do to determine if our audience’s needs are met. We also began defining our project specs in clearer terms, stating our chosen definition for fit and finding the range of dimensions our design must be able to accommodate based on national average size databases. Thirdly, we were connected with two physical therapists who work with scoliosis in the clinic, and we are currently initiating conversations to gain another perspective of the problems associated with both scoliosis and bracing.
07 Client Decision
This week, we brainstormed design concepts individually, and plan to compare and debate these ideas as a group in order to obtain a wide variety of approaches. In addition, we contacted Professor Klaesner as a potential client for our project, and plan to remain in contact with orthotists to understand what they need in a solution, as well as specific design spec metrics. In the coming week, we will meet with Professor Klaesner to discuss our current progress with the project and our preliminary report.
06 Website Design
This week we begun the initial stages of the creation of our webpage through weebly.com. In addition we continued to conduct research on possible clients since we have not heard back from M.S. Wong. As a team, we decided that if we have not been able to find a client by the beginning of next week, we will ask Dr. Klaesner to be our client. We continued to conduct research on current patents and ongoing advances in the field to gain a better understanding of what orthotists and scoliosis doctors could be looking for in a new technology that would drastically improve upon current technologies used.
05 Metrics
After defining the specifications for our presentation, we determined which metrics should be used in our included product specifications. Kylie was then able to create slides that easily laid out the background of our project, defined the design specifications and metrics, and laid out patents and current technologies used and their pros and cons. In addition, while a Gantt chart was created for the overall schedule of the project for the remainder of the semester, as a group, we brainstormed a schedule of small milestones we would like to reach by the end of this semester in terms of coming up with an idea for a design and beginning the calculations for the device.
04 Product Specifications
This week we used data from peer-reviewed articles, patents, and first-person field experience to determine quantifiable metrics for our project design specifications. With this information, we completed a preliminary report outlining the basis of our problem/need, top-level specifications, and a review of current solutions in use or being researched. Additionally, we contacted Dr. M.S. Wong at HKPU as a potential client for our project, as he has expertise in spine orthotics and scoliosis. With our current list of specifications in mind, we plan to begin brainstorming possible solutions and to make in-person observations at local orthotic clinics in the coming weeks.
03 Orthotist Consultation
This week we continued to reach out to local orthotists including David Osterman and Tom Malone at Orthotics & Prosthetics Lab, Inc. in hope to gain a better understanding of their needs in developing a TLSO brace for scoliosis. We are discussing the possibility of touring their orthotic manufacturing facility in order to expand our understanding of the process and foster a discussion with the orthotists of how the process could be improved at every level. This will also help us to determine specs and metrics. In addition, we are continuing to conduct literature research about the process of scoliosis brace making to be more informed as well continue to develop our own ideas on how the process can be improved. While we currently have an idea of how the process can be improved with ease, we are continuing to think through other ideas and will have a better idea of which process with work the most smoothly once our Pugh chart is completed.
02 Background Research This week, we have reached out to local orthotists so that we can better listen to their needs and potentially shadow the brace-fitting process. We have also developed a preliminary list of specs and metrics, which we intend to continue to develop as we interact with orthotists and observe their needs. Through conversation with a pediatric orthopedic nurse (Jennifer Ledbetter) and Dr. Scott Luhmann at the school of medicine, we have learned about a current method that is being researched to solve our problem, which we plan to use as a comparison point for our project metrics. We are also conducting our own research through literature in order to become more informed. At this time, we are brainstorming approaches to improving the process of scoliosis bracing through many pathways, and have developed a list of ideas, which we wish to expand upon for better comparison in our Pugh chart.
01 Initial Project Idea
Contacts Established:
Dr. Felipe Salinas
David Zar
Dr. Nathan Richard
Dr. Keith Bridwell
Project Plan:
When creating spinal braces for patients with scoliosis, doctors must first create an initial brace based on estimation, and then use X-rays to determine the extent of spinal correction. This snapshot is then used to alter the design of subsequent braces until proper spinal position is reached. This process is lengthy and exposes patients to high levels of x-ray radiation.
Our project plan involves development of a way to determine the extent of spinal correction in real-time as a doctor adjusts the patient’s spine, allowing measurements to be taken immediately to create an accurately-fitted brace and reducing exposure to x-rays. We are currently in contact with both scoliosis doctors, ultrasound research labs, and an ultrasound-based startup, as we believe ultrasound to be a potential safe, portable, and real-time imaging solution.
This week, as a team we brainstormed ideas for solutions to our initial problem. From these alternative solutions, we developed a Pugh chart and scored each design alternative using the weighted design specifications. Since our design required three separate types of parts, we developed three Pugh charts for each part needed. From these three Pugh charts, we were able to see which solution scored the highest and chose this as our designated solution. We then established a cutoff score for our design alternatives and begun writing our progress report based on the solutions that surpassed that cutoff score. In addition, we found that MS Wong at Hong Kong Polytechnic University has pursued solutions to this problem and conducted research on his solutions so as to better understand all of the problems that our solutions must solve.
10 Brainstorming Solutions
This week, each team member spent time individually brainstorming solutions for a maximum diversity in initial ideas. We then met as a group on Thursday and compiled our brainstorming, as well as used each other's’ ideas as inspiration for new concepts. We have separated our solutions into 3 categories: spine position monitoring involving direct imaging of the spine, indirect spine position monitoring, and positioning devices that allow precise spine readjustment. We have scheduled follow-up meetings on both Saturday and Monday to come up with our final list of options and use our Pugh chart to determine the best option. Currently, we have 25 distinct solutions, with that number increasing when considering the different combinations of monitoring and positioning devices. We aim to grow and solidify this list on Saturday, and use insights from our coming meeting with Sylvia Czuppon and Patricia McGee to justify our spec rankings in our Pugh chart.
09 Metrics and New Perspectives
This week, Amanda contacted Sylvia Czuppon and Patricia McGee, physical therapists working with scoliosis at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. We have arranged a meeting for next week to discuss needs from a therapist’s perspective, as they work with patients after braces have been prescribed and designed. At a meeting on Monday morning, we revised our need statement to specify our intended audience as orthotists, so that it now reads: Orthotists are in need of an accurate way to determine changes in spine position from external body adjustments for more efficient scoliosis brace design. This adjustment will be discussed with our mentor to obtain any further advice in needed clarification. We have also adjusted our methods of evaluating success accordingly, narrowing our specifications to reflect the effects of our product on orthotists’ work and lives. Finally, we performed research using national databases to define metrics for the population who will interact with our device.
08 Clarifying Audience
This week, we met with Professor Klaesner to discuss our design specs, final intentions for the project, and potential resources in the scoliosis field. We realized that our intended audience was unclear from our initial need statement, and we are now deciding between orthotists and scoliosis patients as the basis for our specifications. This will also help us determine what tests we will need to do to determine if our audience’s needs are met. We also began defining our project specs in clearer terms, stating our chosen definition for fit and finding the range of dimensions our design must be able to accommodate based on national average size databases. Thirdly, we were connected with two physical therapists who work with scoliosis in the clinic, and we are currently initiating conversations to gain another perspective of the problems associated with both scoliosis and bracing.
07 Client Decision
This week, we brainstormed design concepts individually, and plan to compare and debate these ideas as a group in order to obtain a wide variety of approaches. In addition, we contacted Professor Klaesner as a potential client for our project, and plan to remain in contact with orthotists to understand what they need in a solution, as well as specific design spec metrics. In the coming week, we will meet with Professor Klaesner to discuss our current progress with the project and our preliminary report.
06 Website Design
This week we begun the initial stages of the creation of our webpage through weebly.com. In addition we continued to conduct research on possible clients since we have not heard back from M.S. Wong. As a team, we decided that if we have not been able to find a client by the beginning of next week, we will ask Dr. Klaesner to be our client. We continued to conduct research on current patents and ongoing advances in the field to gain a better understanding of what orthotists and scoliosis doctors could be looking for in a new technology that would drastically improve upon current technologies used.
05 Metrics
After defining the specifications for our presentation, we determined which metrics should be used in our included product specifications. Kylie was then able to create slides that easily laid out the background of our project, defined the design specifications and metrics, and laid out patents and current technologies used and their pros and cons. In addition, while a Gantt chart was created for the overall schedule of the project for the remainder of the semester, as a group, we brainstormed a schedule of small milestones we would like to reach by the end of this semester in terms of coming up with an idea for a design and beginning the calculations for the device.
04 Product Specifications
This week we used data from peer-reviewed articles, patents, and first-person field experience to determine quantifiable metrics for our project design specifications. With this information, we completed a preliminary report outlining the basis of our problem/need, top-level specifications, and a review of current solutions in use or being researched. Additionally, we contacted Dr. M.S. Wong at HKPU as a potential client for our project, as he has expertise in spine orthotics and scoliosis. With our current list of specifications in mind, we plan to begin brainstorming possible solutions and to make in-person observations at local orthotic clinics in the coming weeks.
03 Orthotist Consultation
This week we continued to reach out to local orthotists including David Osterman and Tom Malone at Orthotics & Prosthetics Lab, Inc. in hope to gain a better understanding of their needs in developing a TLSO brace for scoliosis. We are discussing the possibility of touring their orthotic manufacturing facility in order to expand our understanding of the process and foster a discussion with the orthotists of how the process could be improved at every level. This will also help us to determine specs and metrics. In addition, we are continuing to conduct literature research about the process of scoliosis brace making to be more informed as well continue to develop our own ideas on how the process can be improved. While we currently have an idea of how the process can be improved with ease, we are continuing to think through other ideas and will have a better idea of which process with work the most smoothly once our Pugh chart is completed.
02 Background Research This week, we have reached out to local orthotists so that we can better listen to their needs and potentially shadow the brace-fitting process. We have also developed a preliminary list of specs and metrics, which we intend to continue to develop as we interact with orthotists and observe their needs. Through conversation with a pediatric orthopedic nurse (Jennifer Ledbetter) and Dr. Scott Luhmann at the school of medicine, we have learned about a current method that is being researched to solve our problem, which we plan to use as a comparison point for our project metrics. We are also conducting our own research through literature in order to become more informed. At this time, we are brainstorming approaches to improving the process of scoliosis bracing through many pathways, and have developed a list of ideas, which we wish to expand upon for better comparison in our Pugh chart.
01 Initial Project Idea
Contacts Established:
Dr. Felipe Salinas
David Zar
Dr. Nathan Richard
Dr. Keith Bridwell
Project Plan:
When creating spinal braces for patients with scoliosis, doctors must first create an initial brace based on estimation, and then use X-rays to determine the extent of spinal correction. This snapshot is then used to alter the design of subsequent braces until proper spinal position is reached. This process is lengthy and exposes patients to high levels of x-ray radiation.
Our project plan involves development of a way to determine the extent of spinal correction in real-time as a doctor adjusts the patient’s spine, allowing measurements to be taken immediately to create an accurately-fitted brace and reducing exposure to x-rays. We are currently in contact with both scoliosis doctors, ultrasound research labs, and an ultrasound-based startup, as we believe ultrasound to be a potential safe, portable, and real-time imaging solution.