If you dont know my name is carolynn schremp i am a Senior Industrial design student at MIAD, and my thesis project is focused on improving the theropy treatments for CF mainly the vest. I donot have CF, but my boyfriend (32yo) and his brother (27 yo) both do so this is a subject that has become very personal to me. Thank you for your help on all the questions so far.. here is my proposal <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
27. Jan. 2006
Senior industrial design thesis proposal:
Cystic Fibrosis respiratory therapy/ airway clearance system
Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common fatal genetic disorders in the United States, affecting more than 30,000 Americans and nearly three times as many in countries around the would; predominantly in Caucasian population. That is about one of every 3,300 live babies born that are affected by this disorder. The cause of CF is from a mutated protein located on chromosome 7, which normally is produced in a number of tissues throughout the body that regulates the movement of salt and water in and out of those cells. As a result of the mutated protein, one predominant
indication of CF is the presence of a thick sticky mucus secretion, which clogs the bronchial tubes in the lungs and plugs the exit passages from the pancreas and intestines, leading to loss or decrease of function in these organs.
Progressive lung disease is the predominant cause of illness and death in people with CF. Airway passages are blocked by a thick mucus that if not treated and cleared out results in bacterial infections. Treatments for progressive lung disease typically involve antibiotics, bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, and chest physiotherapy to help fight infection and clear the lung passages. Since the discovery of the affected gene in 1985, more than two decades of progressive development of new treatments and therapies for CF has greatly improved patient's quality of life as well as lengthening their life expectancy by more than 25 years.
I am proposing the development and design of a new form of respiratory therapy or improvements on current respiratory therapies through the design of a assistive airway clearance system. A product that through a method of vibration or pulsation over the patients lungs will help to more effectively loosen the mucus that is inside, making it more effective, easier and more comfortable to cough up than current methods and lessening the likely hood or frequency of bacterial infections.
Through my research and development of my design I will be taking into careful consideration many of the current physical considerations that are currently not attended to in therapy methods. I will be studying patients who have a medi-port permanently installed in their chest, women's breasts, back and shoulder pain and possible physical limitations. I will also put focus on the patients' quality of life. Such as being able to go about daily life as best possible by making the therapy portable and easy for the patients to use themselves. In addition to the predominant research
subject designing a more effective, comfortable and productive way of loosening
the mucus from the lungs and be coughed up.
A vast amount of my back ground research or information on CF will be through web based data, mostly from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation organizations website, as well as contacting the Wisconsin CCF chapter head. I will be meeting with doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists that specialize in CF; in addition to medical students from Froedtert Medical College of Wisconsin whose subject of study is focused on CF and respiratory therapy. Also I currently live with two male CF patients that have
different severities of CF and will observe them on a daily basis, study and interview them as well as several other CF patients through the duration of the project. The very important insight, opinions, problems and concerns of all the patients involved in my research will be taken into consideration and incorporated into the final product of my research.
27. Jan. 2006
Senior industrial design thesis proposal:
Cystic Fibrosis respiratory therapy/ airway clearance system
Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common fatal genetic disorders in the United States, affecting more than 30,000 Americans and nearly three times as many in countries around the would; predominantly in Caucasian population. That is about one of every 3,300 live babies born that are affected by this disorder. The cause of CF is from a mutated protein located on chromosome 7, which normally is produced in a number of tissues throughout the body that regulates the movement of salt and water in and out of those cells. As a result of the mutated protein, one predominant
indication of CF is the presence of a thick sticky mucus secretion, which clogs the bronchial tubes in the lungs and plugs the exit passages from the pancreas and intestines, leading to loss or decrease of function in these organs.
Progressive lung disease is the predominant cause of illness and death in people with CF. Airway passages are blocked by a thick mucus that if not treated and cleared out results in bacterial infections. Treatments for progressive lung disease typically involve antibiotics, bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, and chest physiotherapy to help fight infection and clear the lung passages. Since the discovery of the affected gene in 1985, more than two decades of progressive development of new treatments and therapies for CF has greatly improved patient's quality of life as well as lengthening their life expectancy by more than 25 years.
I am proposing the development and design of a new form of respiratory therapy or improvements on current respiratory therapies through the design of a assistive airway clearance system. A product that through a method of vibration or pulsation over the patients lungs will help to more effectively loosen the mucus that is inside, making it more effective, easier and more comfortable to cough up than current methods and lessening the likely hood or frequency of bacterial infections.
Through my research and development of my design I will be taking into careful consideration many of the current physical considerations that are currently not attended to in therapy methods. I will be studying patients who have a medi-port permanently installed in their chest, women's breasts, back and shoulder pain and possible physical limitations. I will also put focus on the patients' quality of life. Such as being able to go about daily life as best possible by making the therapy portable and easy for the patients to use themselves. In addition to the predominant research
subject designing a more effective, comfortable and productive way of loosening
the mucus from the lungs and be coughed up.
A vast amount of my back ground research or information on CF will be through web based data, mostly from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation organizations website, as well as contacting the Wisconsin CCF chapter head. I will be meeting with doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists that specialize in CF; in addition to medical students from Froedtert Medical College of Wisconsin whose subject of study is focused on CF and respiratory therapy. Also I currently live with two male CF patients that have
different severities of CF and will observe them on a daily basis, study and interview them as well as several other CF patients through the duration of the project. The very important insight, opinions, problems and concerns of all the patients involved in my research will be taken into consideration and incorporated into the final product of my research.