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The Doppler Dot

Project Overview

Frequent monitoring of arteries is essential to reconstructive surgeons and arguably more essential to patients; however, it is not always sufficient to simply feel for blood pressure of the arteries of concern at the surface of the patient’s skin. This is due to the stress often put on arteries in tissues that are operated on in reconstructive surgery, causing blood pressure to be too faint to physically feel. Therefore, reconstructive surgeons must resort to the use of the pencil Doppler to monitor blood flow, up to six centimeters under the skin. Although this device is highly accurate and reliable, it is also highly inconvenient, for the pencil Doppler requires the use of ultrasound transmission gel. Often, the medical staff must awaken patients once an hour in order to use the pencil Doppler to ensure specific tissues still have sufficient blood flow through their operated tissue. This not only places heightened stress on the patient, but the ultrasonic gel will also remove any markings on the patient prior that located the artery of concern. Thus, the client seeks to find a device that would be capable of attaching to the skin and remain firmly in one position so as to superficially identify the location of the artery while also being capable of transmitting the sound waves (8-9.1 MHz) of a pencil Doppler. The other option the client would be willing to pursue is a device that could be directly attached to the patient and be capable of transmitting hemodynamic data via a receiver that could be plugged into a pre-existing device and unplugged when not in use.

Team Picture

Team members from left to right: Luke Le Clair, Galen Riley, Jacob Mundale, Luke Hetue, Crysta Frank, Anna Keller
Team members from left to right: Luke Le Clair, Galen Riley, Jacob Mundale, Luke Hetue, Crysta Frank, Anna Keller

Files

Contact Information

Team Members

  • Crysta Frank - Team Leader
  • Luke Le Clair - Communicator
  • Galen Riley - BSAC
  • Jacob Mundale - Co-BWIG
  • Luke Hetue - Co-BWIG
  • Anna Keller - BPAG
  • Ashley Mulchrone

Advisor and Client

  • Prof. Naomi Chesler - Advisor
  • Dr. Nicholas Albano - Client

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