Senior Design Expo 2019
The Senior Design Expo, held annually in May at Columbia University, is an opportunity for Columbia Engineering students to showcase what they have learned in their foundational math and science courses together with their engineering courses in innovative, creative, and purposeful designs and prototypes. Each year the Expo showcases more than 60 projects across all nine departments. Projects have included cutting-edge robotics, the New York City subway system, language technology, proposals for bridges to span the Hudson river, and much more.
The Senior Design Expo, held annually in May at Columbia University, is an opportunity for Columbia Engineering students to showcase what they have learned in their foundational math and science courses together with their engineering courses in innovative, creative, and purposeful designs and prototypes. Each year the Expo showcases more than 60 projects across all nine departments. Projects have included cutting-edge robotics, the New York City subway system, language technology, proposals for bridges to span the Hudson river, and much more.
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Homer101<br />
Samuel Castro, Mary Grace Gana, Miriam Saffern, Amy Wu, Shirley Xian<br />
Advisors: Dr. Peter Yim, Prof. Clark Hung<br />
Out-of-theater intubations by non-expert intubists are associated with failure rates as high as 49%.<br />
Failure to intubate may result in hypoxia, hypotension, and even death. Vocal cord visualization<br />
is essential for tube placement and breathing restoration. This is facilitated by correct placement<br />
of a laryngoscope blade in the vallecula to lift up the epiglottis and visualize the vocal cords inside<br />
the trachea. Therefore, there is a need for a way to quickly and accurately guide the laryngoscope<br />
blade correctly into the vallecula in out-of-theatre settings. Homer101 aims to create a “smart”<br />
laryngoscope blade that guides the less-experienced intubist through tactile sensing mechanisms.<br />
By attaching force sensors to the blade and processing resulting data, the intubist receives realtime<br />
feedback on blade placement. Initial testing in training sessions with attending<br />
anesthesiologists shows that 89% of incorrect intubations can be detected, thus improving the<br />
sensitivity of the procedure.<br />
Vicious Cycle<br />
Srinidhi Bharadwaj, Changhee (Stephen) Lee, Sarah Nick,<br />
Katherine Strong, Yuge Xiao<br />
Advisor: Prof. Christoph Juchem<br />
Bronchiectasis is an irreversible lung deterioration that leads to mucus buildup in the airways.<br />
Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition, trapping patients in a vicious cycle of inflammation and<br />
infection. Bronchiectasis care primarily focuses on mucus clearance through manual chest<br />
physiotherapy and assistive clearance devices. However, treatments frequently fail due to poor<br />
patient compliance stemming from time limitations and a lack of device adaptability. Patients need<br />
a treatment option that provides greater portability, adaptability, and comfort. The VC Woofer is<br />
a hands-free device that facilitates airway clearance through acoustic vibrations to the chest. The<br />
VC Woofer is fitted with an adjustable harness, a padded coupler, and a rechargeable battery for<br />
comfortable and portable use. Initial prototype testing demonstrated significantly greater mucus<br />
clearance with the VC Woofer than with three existing mucus clearance devices. Thus, the VC<br />
Woofer provides an alternative airway clearance method for patients who struggle to comply with<br />
their current treatment.<br />
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