Our Mission:
To design and create a radio-translucent seating system to accommodate children and physicians in terms of comfort, stability, and security during videofluoroscopic swallow studies.
Background: What are pediatric videofluoroscopic swallow studies?
- At Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, dozens of videofluoroscopic swallow studies are performed each week on kids that have developmental and birth defects.
- These studies enable providers to identify each patient’s potential risks and concerns when swallowing, such as aspiration or an inability to consistently use the epiglottis and pharynx muscles.
- Goal is to mitigate risks through interventional surgeries or feeding tubes to greatly improve patient comfort and safety and put their families at ease.
- These swallow studies are performed by taking X-rays in real time while the patient swallows liquids/foods mixed with barium.
Example of barium swallow study (source:https://gfycat.com/frailspryfly)
Overview:
Our team has designed, prototyped, virtually constructed, and mathematically confirmed the utility and functionality of the Easy PASS Chair. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are unable to deliver a final physical product and have requested this seating system become a legacy project. In doing so, we:
- Created a professional CAD file of the entire seating system
- Conducted failure analyses on this virtual model using real parts and systems from McMaster Carr
- Communicated with the VFSS clinicians and confirmed appropriate future directions
- Drafted clear, detailed instructions for the incoming design team
This project is not possible without support from the VFSS clinicians, Dr. Matthew Walker III, and Dr. Kevin Galloway. Thank you.