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A Device To Promote The Healing Of Damaged Costal Cartilage

A Device to Promote the Healing of

Damaged Costal Cartilage

Senior Design

ME 481 — Dr. Khalid Khan

November 30th, 2007

Adam Cyr

Alex Drew

John Earhart

Doug Pederson

Jeff Salzbrenner

Table of Contents
Executive Summary 2
Introduction 3
Background 4
Discussion 6
Problem Definition 6
Objectives 6
Design Criteria 7
Prototype Iteration 7
Final Design Concept 12
Resorbable Materials 13
Polymer Mesh 15
Rib Connection Plate Design 15
Sternum Connection Plate Design 18
Plate and Mesh Integration Concepts 18
Budget and Hours Worked 19
Conclusions and Recommendations 20
References 21
Acknowledgements 23
Appendix I – Design Criteria Appendix I
Appendix II – Project Schedule Appendix II
Appendix III – Project Charter Appendix III
Appendix IV – Project Proposal Appendix IV
Appendix V – Budget Appendix V
Appendix VI – Hours Worked Appendix VI
Appendix VII – Meeting Notes Appendix VII
Appendix VIII – Weekly Updates Appendix VIII

Executive Summary
The purpose of this project is to research and develop a biomedical solution for damaged costal cartilage in order to promote healing and recovery. In addition, this project has satisfied the requirements of ME 481, Senior Design, in accordance to the plan laid out in the project charter at the beginning of the course (Appendix III). In order to gain understanding and insight of the human body, the group conducted research through interviews with professionals, textbooks, and medical journals.

From interviews with medical professionals, the group was given recommendations on a target market, designs that were feasible, and materials that could be used for the device. Based off these initial interviews, Thortech initially came up with a long list of ideas that was reduced to four potential design options: a rib fixation design, a rigid lockout design, a slider design, and a wire mesh design. The group then had a valuable meeting with Dr. John Mayberry, a thoracic...