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Team 3 (Team Auto Inflator) is working in conjunction with Quest Medical of Allen, TX on an automated balloon catheter inflation system. Most current inflation mechanisms for balloon catheter systems rely on costly syringes that are manually inflated. Team Auto-Inflator’s goal is to design a system that automates the inflation and deflation of the balloon catheter system. With automation, the surgical procedures will become more repeatable as the fsmeasurement of internal system pressure and control over infused volume will become more accurate. As well, automation will reduce the cost of the balloon catheter kit by replacing the costly syringes with less expensive interchangeable cassettes to be used in conjunction with the systems pump.
Team Auto-Inflator is concentrating on adapting a proprietary technology currently used by Quest in other products to serve as the inflation and deflation mechanism. The cassettes used with the pump will also be redesigned, with a focus on adding minimal additional cost of manufacturing, to meet the needs of the system. The system will also be designed with further modifications such as the addition of other parameter measurements, and a user interface with pre-programmed procedures in mind.
During the 2007 Fall semester, Team Auto-Inflator completed Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 included research of balloon catheter systems, developing initial designs, submitting project proposals, and conducting an initial design review. Phase 2 will take place during the 2008 Spring semester and will include further design reviews, adoption of a final design, fabrication, and testing. The final device will be revealed during a poster session in April.
