Project Overview

The American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is required training for thousands of physicians and medical staff who attend the delivery of newborns. Placement of an intravenous catheter in the umbilical vein of the cord stump in a distressed newborn is one way to provide life saving medication and is a skill that is essential to the NRP course. Hands-on training in the placement of an umbilical venous catheter has received increased attention and emphasis since the 2005 update of the NRP course. Currently, two models for hands-on training are available. Some companies make newborn models for CPR that also have artificial umbilical cords (ex Laerdol). These models appear to inadequately mimic placement in a real cord and are very expensive. Alternatively, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using sections of an umbilical cord obtained after delivery. The cord section is placed in a glass baby bottle with part of the nipple cut off so the cord extends about 1/2 an inch from the top of the nipple. While this model has the advantage of using a real cord, the cord is secured poorly and thus does not adequately mimic placement in a newborn. My design idea is to make a support for real umbilical cords that would more closely mimic the umbilical stump of a newborn. The model could be made out of a material that might mimic the abdominal wall, such as ballistic grade gel, and might perhaps have two halves that clamp around a section of real cord. The model could mimic the curves of the umbilical vein after it enters the body, making placement more realistic. Ultimately, this model, which would best be quite inexpensive and disposable, could be marketed to the over 25,000 individuals in the US who teach NRP and would likely represent a vast improvement over the "baby bottle" model.

Files

• Mid-Semester Presentation (October 19, 2007)
• Mid-Semester Report and PDS (October 24, 2007)
• Final Presentation Poster (December 8, 2007)
• Prototype and Baby Bottle Model Demonstration Video (December 11, 2007)
• Final Semester Report (December 12, 2007)

Contact Information

Team Members

• Ann Sagstetter - Co-Team Leader
• Padraic Casserly - Co-Team Leader
• Songyu Ng - Communicator
• Angwei Law - BSAC
• Tim Balgemann - BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. Brenda Ogle - Advisor
• Julie Kessel - Client
• Elizabeth Goetz - Alternate Contact
• Sharon Blohowiak - Alternate Contact

Related Projects

• Spring 2008: Umbilical Vein Catheterization Training Model
• Fall 2007: Umbilical Vein Catheterization Model