Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Suction Sense - Pitch Project |
Hugh Palin Jeremy Lee Suleymaan Ahmad |
Lukas Dumasius | design_document1.pdf other2.pdf presentation1.pdf proposal1.pdf |
|
| Team Members: Hugh Palin (hpalin2) Jeremy Lee (jeremy10) Suleymaan Ahmad (sahma20) **Problem** Currently, suction is unnecessarily left on for approximately 35% of the runtime in operating rooms. This results in wasted energy, increased maintenance costs, reduced equipment lifespan, and unnecessary electricity consumption. At present, there is no mechanism to detect or alert staff when suction is left running unnecessarily (such as overnight when no surgeries are in progress). **Solution** We propose a system composed of two hardware components and one software component. The first hardware module will attach to the medical gas shut-off valves, where it will monitor suction pressure and wirelessly transmit the data. A second hardware component will receive and store this data. On the software side, we will develop an application that takes in suction usage data and cross-references it with the hospital’s operating room schedule (retrieved from the Epic system). The application will display a UI showing which operating rooms are currently in use and whether suction is active. Color coding will clearly indicate if suction has been left on unnecessarily. **Solution Components** Microprocessor For this project, we plan to use an ESP32-WROOM-32 module as the microcontroller. We chose this module for its small form factor and wifi and bluetooth capability, which gives us flexibility in how we transmit the suction data. It is also extremely inexpensive, which is important considering hospitals operate on a limited budget and our module needs to be deployed in each operating room. Finally, the ESP32 features extensive open-source libraries, documentation, and community support, which will significantly simplify the development process. Pressure Transducer The Transducers Direct TDH31 pressure transducer will be used to monitor real-time suction. It works by converting vacuum pressure into an electrical signal readable by the ESP32. We chose this module for its compatibility with medical suction ranges, compact design for easy integration, and reliability in continuous-use environments. The sensor’s analog output provides a simple and accurate way to track suction status with minimal additional circuitry. BLE Shield The HM-19 BLE module will be used to relay suction data from the ESP32 to the Raspberry Pi. This module supports Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2, providing reliable short-range communication while consuming minimal power, which is critical for continuous monitoring in hospital settings. Its compact footprint and simple UART interface make it easy to integrate with the ESP32 without adding unnecessary complexity. Raspberry Pi Display Module The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B paired with the Raspberry Pi 7″ Touchscreen Display will serve as the central monitoring and alert system. The Raspberry Pi was chosen for its quad-core processing power, extensive I/O support, and strong software ecosystem, making it well-suited to run the suction monitoring application and integrate with the Epic scheduling system. The 7″ touchscreen will allow the module to be mounted in the hallway, providing an interface that allows staff to quickly view operating room suction status, with clear color-coded indicators and alerts. This combination also enables both visual and audio notifications when suction is unnecessarily left on, ensuring staff can respond promptly. Software Application The application will run on the Raspberry Pi and serve as the central hub for data processing and visualization. It will collect suction pressure readings from the ESP32 via the HM-19 BLE module and compare this data against the hospital’s operating room schedule retrieved through the Epic system. A color-coded interface on the Raspberry Pi touchscreen will clearly show which operating rooms are in use, whether suction is active, and show where suction has been unnecessarily left on. **Criteria for Success:** Our system must remain cost-effective, with a total component cost under $1,200 per unit to align with hospital budgets. The hardware module must securely attach to suction shut-off valves, remain compact, and accurately detect suction levels using an. Data must be reliably transmitted to a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, which will also pull operating room schedules from the Epic system. Finally, the touchscreen application must clearly display suction status with color coding and issue real-time alerts when suction is left on unnecessarily. |
|||||