Retractor for Breast Surgery
Project Overview
In the United States, there were around 250,000 breast augmentations performed in 2004. Breast retractors are commonly used in these procedures to aid the surgeon by holding up the breast tissue while the surgeon uses an electrocautery tool to cut muscle and other tissues to form a pocket. During this process, smoke is formed so retractors have suction holes to remove the smoke from the cavity. In addition, the cavity is quite dark, so proper lighting of the area is essential for a precise completion to the pocket formation. Today, breast retractors require the surgeon to hold up the breast tissue while simultaneously forming the breast pocket. This can cause some strain on the surgeon’s arm since the procedure takes around 45 minutes for both breasts. Thus, our client would like us to develop a surgical retractor for breast surgery that can reduce the force required by the surgeon, while simultaneously providing a powerful light source (within a dissected pocket) and a suction device.
Files
- Breast Retractor Progress Design Statement (February 3, 2006)
- Breast Retractor Midsemester Presentation (February 24, 2006)
- Mid-Semester Report (March 3, 2006)
- Final Report (April 28, 2006)
- Final Presentation (May 10, 2006)
Contact Information
Team Members
- Christopher Westphal - Team Leader
- Sarajane Stevens - Communicator
- Arinne Lyman - BSAC
- Eric Bader - BWIG
Advisor and Client
- Prof. William Murphy - Advisor
- Justin Piasecki - Client