Progress Update 2/7
We aim to design and develop a bronchoscope that is more cost efficient, portable, and durable than current devices on the market and can also be controlled with common appliances such as iPhone and iPad technology for universal ease of use and increased availability. We have already created 2 mechanical control system designs, done extensive research into the required capabilities of our device, and have planned out the electrical and optics system necessary for the bronchoscope’s camera feed function.
Over the past week, we have ordered several key components including the OmniVision OC0SA10 CMOS image sensor. This camera is twice the price of the OH02A10, but comes with greater functionality and ease of use when being integrated with our Raspberry Pi microcontroller.
In addition, a large-scale lego prototype of one of our mechanical designs was created, with the parts also having been ordered. This is one of the 2 control system designs we seek to test and iterate upon, with the other design nearing completion using SolidWorks. Both designs will be tested using a large-scale mockup of our insertion tube, which we will create in the coming days using tubing and fishing line purchased this past week. In addition, the insertion tube mockup will require several structural discs which have already been modeled using SolidWorks and will be laser cut at the Wondry in the coming days.
The lead time on the parts needed for the first prototype should be on the order of several days. Thus, we plan to finish construction next week to be evaluated on our clinical advisor.
Over the past week, we have ordered the camera needed for testing, ordered custom made Legos for prototyping one of our mechanical designs, and have designed CAD models for the discs used in the mechanism for moving the bronchoscope’s insertion tube. We also purchased 2 different tubes of varying sizes (~3mm and ~6mm outer diameters) to be used as an instrumentation channel for our first prototype. We also purchased fishing line as a substitute for the wire that pulls the discs surrounding the instrumentation channel in our prototype’s insertion tube.
In the next week, we plan to lasercut the discs that we have modeled in SolidWorks so that we can begin to construct our first mechanism prototype. Completion of this prototype will depend on when the custom made Lego pieces arrive. We also plan on soon modeling the gear mechanism used in our second design so that we can eventually 3D print it and make our second prototype.