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New discoveries and advancements in the medical field have introduced a myriad of life-saving therapy options for patients across the globe. But what does it matter if tremendous costs and inefficient processes cause those therapies to be inaccessible?

A group of seniors in the��Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering are working to solve that problem by developing an automated medical fluid aliquoting device during their senior capstone design class.

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A rendering of the team's automated fluid aliquoting device, sponsored by Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies.

The project, sponsored by��, is a user-focused system that employs a rotational fluid distribution mechanism to divide and organize medical fluids into disposable bags. These fluid-filled bags can then be taken to hospitals for administration or stored for later use.

“A lot of different medical facilities need systems that can aliquot or essentially ‘dose out’ medical fluid for various applications,” said CAD engineer Zachary Goldberg. “Our device improves upon those previous systems by increasing the capacity of fluid samples that can be created and reducing the amount of space that the system takes in medical labs.”

Through human factors input, the group has found a way to streamline and automate the process to minimize labor-intensive interactions.

“In medical aliquoting, anything that a fluid comes in contact with needs to be disposed of after every single run to maintain a sterile product. So the operator is regularly unloading and reloading the tubing from the system,” said logistics manager Lia Cucuzzella. “This is a process that takes precious operator time with the existing machinery. Our device aims to streamline the loading process.

“This could reduce the cost of labor and help increase patient access to the therapies associated with these fluids.”

The medical aliquoting device is the first of its kind in the��Senior Design program. Instead of having a foundation of designs created by teams in past years, the group started brainstorming with no reference points and no restrictions.��

In many ways, this open brainstorming period enabled the group to push the boundaries of their project. But it also proved to be an obstacle.

“I’ve often felt that constraints on projects create smooth thinking,” Cucuzzella said. “When you are given a clearly defined project, it’s easier to think creatively within that space. For us, the bounds were so large that it was difficult for us to come up with an identity and define our own specifications.”

Still, the group was able to come together and find an innovative solution that combines precision and practicality. The team says they’ve learned a lot along the way, including the importance of working together as a team.

“When you have a good team with incredible people who are passionate about what you are working on, the potential is endless,” said project manager Ana Quiñonez. “Our team dynamic and our willingness to work with each other is a culture I will look to maintain going forward.”

The group says their year-long journey has told a story that they are excited to share with attendees at this year’s��Engineering Expo event. Not only will people be able to see the progression of their project, but they will also get to see the development of their friendship in a fashion reminiscent of an old scrapbook of pictures.

They are also hoping to have another surprise: a demonstration that invites all visitors to try their device.

“A part of our mechanism is being user-focused and easy to manage,” said Quinonez. “What better way to explain our story than to let the audience load and operate our device?”