Project Details

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Designing sound-proof chambers for in vitro flow murmur measurements

Company: Pennsylvania State University

Major(s):
Primary: ME
Secondary: BME
Optional: EE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: YES

Blood flow murmurs have been widely used as diagnostic tools. We aim to establish an in vitro (benchtop) experimental setup which can simultaneously measure the flow in cardio- and cerebrovascular environments and the “murmur” produced by the flow with high physiological fidelity. This experimental setup will employ particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) to measure flow in our models. Simultaneously, hydrophones, microphones, and/or Doppler probes will be used to measure flow murmurs. To ensure the acoustic flow murmur measurements maintain high-fidelity with in vivo conditions, we must 1) eliminate ancillary experimental noise contributions (i.e., noise caused by the PTV and flow equipment), and 2) employ representative components which enable us to evaluate how a flow murmur would be propagated to outside the body. Thus, this capstone project will deliver three specific components to support these experiments: 1. Sound-proof chamber: The in vitro model must be placed in a sound-proof chamber to eliminate (to the extent possible) equipment and other ancillary noise sources that exist in the experimental room. To be compatible with PTV experiments, this chamber: a. Must have a optically clear front and bottom faces b. Must have ports that enable flow tubes to reach the models c. Must be able to be completely filled with liquid for extended periods of time without deteriorating d. Must enable the model and calibration target to be held in place in the box and changed out as needed. 2. Chest mimicking hemiellipsoid: For cardiovascular applications, a chest mimicking hemiellipsoid will will be placed around the model. This needs to include sound attenuation elements which reproduce the sound attenuation produced by the chest and rib cage. This will enable microphones to be placed outside of the hemiellipsoid which measure flow murmurs “outside the body”. 3. Skull mimicking hemiellipsoid: For cerebrovascular applications, a skull mimicking hemiellipsoid will which includes sound attenuation elements which reproduce the sound attenuation produced by the skull is needed.