Final Project

For my final project I’m aiming to create:

A heart model which can be used to communicate and educate patient-families about normal heart anatomy.

I want to embed and program lights within the model to illustrate the way blood moves through the heart in a way which is immediately digestible to viewers. I also want it to be an object of beauty, something that draws the eye and captures the attention, so it’s enjoyable to learn from.

Corazon X Luce = Illuminazon

Final Result

powerpoint slide

embedded compressed video

Spiral Development mapped onto Fab Academy Schedule

Week 01 - Project Management, Inital Final Project Ideation:

• Begin ideation about final project: scope, sketches, goals, and objectives.
• Create a detailed project plan with milestones, tasks, and deadlines.

Final project idea: A light-enabled 3D heart teaching model which can provide overwhelmed parents of all backgrounds with a baseline understanding of normal heart anatomy and function.

![Initial sketch of my final project idea]

There are already a number of plastic 3D heart models available on the market, available in a range of colors, materials, sizes, and prices. Some have removable sections which reveal the inner structures and connections of the heart.

Some clinicians already use static models such as these during consults with patient-families, some draw 2D sketches, but in general there isn’t a set “way” that all clinicians handle this conversation.

I would build upon the normal heart teaching models currently available by integrating light into the wall/inner surface of the cardiac chambers which could be programmed to illustrate the flow of blood in a physiologically normal heart. I’m envisioning a model fashioned out of a partially opaque material (3D printed? molded & casted?) for a diffuse light scattering effect. A network or mesh of tiny lights embedded within the walls could be programmed to blink on and off in sync in a pulsing pattern, mimicking the beating of a heart. The lights could be red in the left side of the heart, representing oxygenated blood, and blue in the right side of the heart, representing deoxygenated blood.

I like the removeable sections of material that many plastic 3D heart models offer, allowing users to see “into” the heart. I would include windows like this, and/or maybe just have those sections of the heart wall be fully transparent rather than partially opaque, providing a clear view into the heart. I would also include removeable sections of the wall (or septum) between the atria and between the ventricles, which combined with the use of color and light could be used specifically to illustrate the changes in blood flow that occur when a child is born with defects like that. In this way the model’s utility could be extended to include two defects: (1) an atrial communication, called an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and (2) a ventricular communication, called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). Although there are a few different subtypes of each of these defects, the teaching model would provide a generic substrate to describe the issues with the defect in general: the mixing of deoxygenated and oxygenated blood that these holes allow. When the ASD and VSD patches are removed, the pulsating lights representing blood flow could become purple in the appropriate chamber(s) to illuminate the mixing of blue and red blood due to the hole.

There will be a stand that the heart can sit on (ultimately could be a contact or contactless charger for the lights within the walls so it can be picked up and moved around and still maintain its ability to ‘beat’).

Another feature to include would be the ability to slow and quicken the pace of the rhythm to allow families to see the motion better. Maybe a dial that can be adjusted to change pulse rate. Stretch goal: place finger on a capacitance pad on the base and see the lights change to match your own heartrate.

Week 02 - Computer-Aided Design:

• Research existing heart models and features: viewing window(s) and/or removable sections, types of light
• Begin designing the 3D model using CAD software
• Design & render using several CAD packages/tools to compare their pros & cons. Explore parametric design.
• Envision how to accommodate embedded lights within the design

Week 03 - Computer-Controlled Cutting:

• Evaluate cutting methods for creating prototype parts.
• Choose appropriate materials for the prototype.
• Use computer-controlled cutting tools (e.g., laser cutter) to create initial model components.
• Test and refine the cutting process.

Week 04 - Embedded Programming:

• Research & select suitable microcontrollers and embedded systems for the project.
• Develop the code to control the embedded lights and simulate blood flow through a pulsating motion.
• Test the code on a small-scale prototype.
• Iterate and optimize the programming.

Week 05 - 3D Scanning and Printing:

• Explore 3D printed materials
• 3D print prototype components for assembly.
• Validate the printed components for accuracy.
• Make adjustments to the design based on the 3D printing results.

Week 06 - Electronics Design:

• Design the electronic circuitry for controlling the embedded lights.
• Select appropriate sensors and components for data input: heart rate dial, potential touch pad to read someone’s heart rate in, isolated right or left heart mode
• Integrate the electronics into the 3D model design.

Week 07 - Computer-Aided Machining:

• Explore machining options for refining and detailing the model.
• Implement any necessary adjustments to the model based on machining requirements.
• Use computer-aided machining tools to refine the prototype.

Week 08 - Electronics Production:

• Begin production of electronic components.
• Assemble and test the electronic circuits.
• Troubleshoot and debug any issues.

Week 09 - Output Devices:

• Integrate output devices (LEDs) into the 3D model.
• Test the functionality of the output devices.
• Ensure the lights accurately represent blood flow through the right and left heart

Week 10 - Mechanical Design & Machine Design:

• Refine the mechanical aspects of the 3D model.
• Optimize for durability and ease of assembly.
• Consider any additional mechanical components required for functionality.

Week 11 - Input Devices:

• Integrate input devices for user interaction (dial to control heart rate, finger print pad to read user’s heart reate).
• Test and refine the input devices.

Week 12 - Molding & Casting:

• Explore molding and casting options for fabricating the model
• Test materials & prototype with embedded lights to assess diffusion.

Week 13 - Networking & Communications:

• Investigate networking options for potential remote control or data exchange.
• Implement communication protocols for networking components.

Week 14 - Interface & Application Programming:

• Develop an interface for controlling the model.
• Implement application programming to enhance user interaction.

Week 15 - Wildcard Week:

• Address any unexpected issues or tasks that may have arisen during the project.
• Conduct additional testing and optimization as needed.

Week 16 - Applications & Implications:

• Evaluate potential applications and real-world implications of the project.
• Consider how the model could be used for educational purposes or medical training.

Week 17 - Invention & Intellectual Property & Income:

• Review intellectual property considerations and file for any necessary patents.
• Develop a plan for potential income generation from the project, such as licensing or commercialization.

License

This project is shared under the Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. Written with assistance from ChatGPT.