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Abstract: The purpose of this project is to develop a lighted-end surgical glove for use in any operational environment where lighting conditions may be inadequate. Along with the basic premise of an illuminated finger, this solution will encorporate a digital logic control system to prevent accidental power-off while providing a maximum in usability.
This design is centered on the direct production of light by a sub-micro LED (roughly the size of a grain of rice) hidden at the operator's fingernail. From there, small wires lead to the control system placed on the back of the user's hand. The device will operate on 3 1.5V watch batteries, which will be able to power it through any length of procedure.
Additionally, the design will encorporate flexible circuitry technology, making it one of the least-noticeable devices that could be used in any procedure. Flexible circuits can be manufactured using either a vapor-deposition technique, or adhesive-bound copper traces. With either method, the conductive material is placed on laminas of flexible plastic, and arranged in a grid-like pattern, working essentially the same way as a (computer) keyboard.
This team is being sponsored by Byrne Medical and will be completed at the end of the Spring 2006 Semester.
