MSc Assignment – design of a passive contact force based steering shaft for the ASPASIA Hydrogel applicator

Background

Within the ASPASIA project we aim the development of new technology for the repair of cartilage damage (tear) immediately after a sports injury. The concept is to use an intelligent syringe that allows early treatment directly after the moment of trauma, which will prevent more invasive surgery and potentially prevents further erosion of the damage.

Problem

Before the target area within the ankle is reached the syringe needs to bent in a single direction in order to follow the curvature of the bone and cartilage surface in the joint space. As cartilage is damaged easily due to point contact force, the risk on tissue damage during syringe insertion is present.

Solution

To address these issues, a syringe shaft needs to be designed that adapts its shape immediately after contacting one of the cartilage or bony surfaces that confines its path. This ‘passive adjustable’ shaft needs to prevent dangerous force build-ups on delicate cartilage tissue while maintaining sufficiently stiff to navigate passively through the joint space.

Thesis objective

develop several concepts for the needed syringe shaft design and evaluate them on a theoretical basis with simulations or where needed in an experimental scaled up model. Select the most promising concept and design a scale prototype. Proof that the concept works by objective evaluation in a simulated ankle joint space setup.

Required Interests

  • Design (Solid works)
  • Materials and fluids
  • Matlab (building models)
  • Testing (writing test protocols

Daily coaches:                   Tim Horeman and Gabrielle Tuijthof

Project Co-Workers:       Ing. Frank Schilder, Instrumentation specialist

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