DJ Traina, ‘18, merged his passions for engineering and art in a unique career designing and building advanced medical simulators to train medical responders from far away battlefields to the streets of King County.
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UW’s 3D printed COVID-19 face shields: From innovation to delivery
When the first U.S. COVID-19 patient emerged in Washington, UW Medicine, as the state’s foremost provider of advanced medical care, CREST was thrust into the role of" the trailblazer. Its clinicians and researcher team have since mustered a speedy and sometimes ingenious response to the call. As the COVID-19 personal protective gear crisis emerged in Washington, UW medical personnel, engineers and innovators everywhere went to work including our team here at CREST. Among the efforts has been a collaboration in making face shields that are vital to keeping health care workers safe. Wherever 3D printers existed on the UW campus — be it UW Tacoma, UW Bothell, the Global Innovation Exchange, the School of Drama’s costume shop, and more — the machines all have been printing a face shield part designed by local non-profit Design That Matters. More than 70 printers have produced more than 1,000 cradles.
Defense Department Study on Mannequins Would Improve Surgeon Training
What do surgeons practice on? Mannequins, hopefully. But in the military, where “train as you fight” is the watchword, realism can be sorely lacking.
That's why the Department of Defense is funding a study by the American College of Surgeons with help from the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota. The group is studying a new platform to simulate surgery, injury and patient assessment at the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD). The center's staff tested the Advanced Module Mannequin (AMM) last month, according to a Navy news release.
AMM lets trainers exchange limbs or parts on the mannequin based on which injury or procedure will be practiced, instead of using a completely different mannequin.
"The hope [is] to get to a point where one training mannequin is all that's needed, and those who run training scenarios can adjust the mannequin according to whichever scenario they're trying to mimic," Daniel McConnell, a NMCSD's bio-skills training and simulation center training specialist, said in the news release. "Theoretically, the ACS and AMM aim to create a completely integrated training mannequin."
Related: Ranger Medics Save Lives in Afghanistan with Blood Transfusions While Under Fire
AMM lets surgeons operate directly on the simulated patient, eliminating the use of a "cut suit" - a backpack-like device on a mannequin that mimics human anatomy. It also gives simulated vital signs in real time, eliminating the need to have a trainer list them off.
As AMM enters its testing phase, DoD officials are hoping this will serve as a new way for surgical and trauma teams to maintain their skills outside of the operating room.
Capt. Gordon Wisbach, NMCSD bio-skills training and simulation center surgical director, said in a news release he's looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.
"It's hard to appreciate it when you view the study within this isolated capacity, but as time goes on, data gets released and we start talking about the next steps," Wisbach said.
The study is currently recruiting surgeons to try it out so ACS can make modifications based on their feedback and survey responses.
Congratulations to teammate Alyssa Schul
Science & Technology Showcase Reaches New Heights
It’s not often the grand prize entry in a showcase is kept hidden under a sheet. Then again, you wouldn’t take modesty into account at a hospital while trying to solve a sensitive medical issue like poorly inserted urinary catheters. That’s where the innovative—and hyper-realistic—training prototype from bioengineering student Alyssa Schul comes into play. The CREST Urethral Catheter Simulator earned her the $1,000 Premera Grand Prize at the 2020 Science and Technology Showcase at the University of Washington. Judges also awarded Schul a $100 Davis Wright Tremaine Best Communicator Prize at the 14th annual competition co-hosted by the Science and Engineering Business Association (SEBA) and the Foster School’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.
WISH, CREST, & UW Bioengineering Host Intriguing Lecture - 3D Printing Functional Materials & Devices
3D Printing Functional Materials & Devices
The development of methods for interfacing high performance functional devices with biology could impact regenerative medicine, smart prosthetics, and human-machine interfaces. The ability to three-dimensionally interweave biological and functional materials could enable the creation of devices possessing unique geometries, properties, and functionalities. 3D printing is a multi-scale platform, allowing for the incorporation of functional nanoscale inks, the printing of microscale features, and ultimately the creation of macroscale devices. This three-dimensional blending of functional materials and ‘living’ platforms may enable next-generation 3D printed devices.
Michael C. McAlpine is the Benjamin Mayhugh Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He received a B.S. in Chemistry with honors from Brown University, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University, and was Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University (2008-2015). His research is focused on 3D printing functional materials & devices, including the three-dimensional interweaving of biological and electronic materials.