We completed our Risk Assessment assignment. Additionally, we sewed on the finalized pressure component, heat sinks, and Peltier TEC modules. We plan on finishing the circuits incorporating the voltage regulators and heat sink relay configuration. We presented at NEBEC 2017 at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

We ordered a rechargeable, lithium-ion battery. We continued to work towards finalizing our pressure components. We incorporated voltage regulators to our circuit design.

We have been continuing our work on the Boa Closure pressure system. With the majority of the rivets sewn on, we tested the efficiency of the cables and the pressure applied. We have adjust the design a few times, by incorporating the casing placement, adjusting the location of plastic to aid in applying more pressure, and cable wiring configuration. Due to the uneven distributing of pressure (too little tension in cables are causing lesser pressure higher up on the back), we have decided to add 2 more dials. One of the set of dials (one on each side) will control the pressure applied on the upper-mid back and another set will control the pressure applied on the lower back. We ordered 2 more relays needed to integrate the heat sinks into the circuit. We have decided on a rechargeable battery source and hope to order it within the next week.

We submitted our abstract to  NEBEC 2017. We stitched polyester on to the sides of the vest, as well as a large portion of the pressure components. Our vibration and Peltier heating/cooling (with a temperature sensor) circuit are working. We are now beginning to incorporate the heat sinks into the temperature system.

Our IRB was reviewed and returned with comments. The State Trait Anxiety Test and deception needs to be removed from the study. The procedure is expected to change extesnively. Additionally, we are continuing to work on our abstract for the NEBEC 2017 at NJIT.

This week we created a circuit, for the Peltier TEC, controlled  by the arduino and Lily Pad temperature sensor. Additionally, we sewed on the side of vests with an elastic, polyester material that fits snugly around the user. We roughly pinned and outlined where and how the Boa Closure system will be secured on the vest, for the pressure system. We just need to sew the rivets down and apply a casing to the cables. We also created a vibration circuit allowing us to use a potentiometer to control the level of vibration. Lastly, we got our IRB back from review and need to change and refine it.

This week, we figured out how to use relays to switch polarities of the Peltier thermoelectrics. We have started to design the relays into our integrated circuit and Arduino. Additionally, we bought polyester material to use to house our components and disallow direct contact of electrical wires onto the user. We began to research and integrate switches and dials into our integrated circuit and Arduino. On our vest, we ripped the remaining seams on the back and began to diagram and construct the integration of the Boa Closure system as pressure therapy on the back and across the sides. Vest measurements were completed in order to finalize heat transfer calculations. Furthermore, we have borrowed a 12V 17Ah lead acid battery from the machine shop for testing and validation of the circuit, until we decide on which lithium ion battery to purchase (if we will go over-budget or not). Lastly, we learned how to use the sewing machine and practice stitching on scrap material. We plan sewing on the required materials and components using ultra-strength Kevlar thread in the near future.

This week our team completed and submitted our IRB. We continued working on our power and heat transfer calculations. Additionally, we began brainstorming our strategy for placement and installation of our Boa closure system for pressure therapy. Several of our ordered items came in: heat sinks, Peltier thermoelectric coolers, vibration motors, FSR, and temperature sensors. We started to test our Peltier TECs with the Arduino and write the necessary code.

This week our team worked on the power and heat transfer calculations needed to determine what kind of battery we must order. The remaining items ordered have been approved by our advisor.

Additionally, we filled out the IRB form that is necessary for human testing.  The supplemental documents relevant to our study will be submitted with the IRB this week. These documents include the subject questionnaire (for verification and validation), consent form,  data safety and management procedure, flyer, task given to subjects in order to induce anxiety, study procedure, and state-anxiety form.

This week was our first week back from Winter Break and of our Spring Senior semester!

We ordered the majority of the remaining parts needed for the construction of our device. This includes the Peltier System, heat sinks, knobs, dials, industrial aluminum foil, temperature sensors, vibration coin motors, and FSR pressure sensors. The remaining big ticket item left to research and purchase is the battery/power supply. We hope to solidify this purchase by the next weekly update.

Additionally,  we ripped the seams of the pockets in the previously purchased weighted vest, as seen below.

We plan on assembling the pressure system and starting to plan the assembly of the vibration and temperature components in the near future.