The FlaminGO
Engineering Design Team Project - Fall 2020
A portable Nasograstic (NG) feeding tube pump that allows children to remain active while feeding.
My Role
Mechanical Engineering | Product Design | Cartridge System | Subsystem Integration
Skills
Engineering Design | Integration & Project Management | CAD: Seimens NX | Finite Element Analysis | Fluid Simulations | Rendering: Unreal Engine | Teamwork
Project Goal
Over the course of this 10-week project, our team designed and simulated a portable NG feeding tube pump system that allows children to remain active while feeding. Many traditional NG feeding tube pumps are cumbersome or unintuitive. These traditional pumps limit children's mobility and often make them a target of bullying in school.
The FlaminGO is designed with portability, child-safety, and aesthetics in mind. With interchangeable fluid cartridges and advanced safety systems, the FlaminGO will allow parents to rest easy knowing their children are safe and well-fed at school.
Final Product
FlaminGO Final Product Overview Video
Animation and Renderings by Luke Schimmel
Video Editing and Music by Kristof Hefty
The team successfully designed and tested a Nasogastric Feeding tube device meant to allow for children to still go about their normal life. This device is one of the smallest and lightest on the market only weighing 4.26 lb and having a size of 3’’x5’’x6.7’’.
The device has advanced safety systems, such as automatic tube detachment in the event of a cable snag, and automatic clog detection. The motor and the cartridge system allowing flow rates from 60 ml/hr to 140 ml/h. Overall, the team believes this device addresses the most salient customer requirements and would give children more freedom to go about their lives.
Engineering Design Process
Brainstorming and User Research
Our team's first step was brainstorming and user research. We started by using mindmaps to brainstorm a variety of different concept ideas, while simultaneously doing user research. In this stage, we also benchmarked existing technologies to get a sense of the specifications of preexisting products.
Specifications
After concept selection, the team decided upon target specifications based on our user and market research.
There were many metrics to consider. The team created a prioritized list of customer needs and decided on specifications that most closely aligned with the highest priority needs.
Concept Development
Next, the team continued to develop the concept. To do this, the team created a functional map and divided the project into subsystems based on key functions and device features. Each member then focused on a particular subsystem.
I was assigned the cartridge subsystem. The cartridge subsystem is responsible for the fluid cartridge system, as well as its attachment to the pump device. After brainstorming and researching existing technologies, I began creating conceptual sketches. Some of the key considerations for this subsystem were cleanability, refillability, and structural integrity.
Detailed Design & Itteration
I used CAD modeling to work out the finer details of the device. After creating the first iteration, I realized that our team's fluid storage requirement was contradictory to the overall size requirement. There was no way to store this amount of fluid in our specified volume. So, this prompted a series of redesigns aimed at reducing the bulk and optimizing fluid storage volume.
Testing
Various methods were used to validate the cartridge subsystem. To validate the structural integrity, I used Finite Element Analysis.
The image on the left shows the output of a simulated drop test from 5 feet. It shows that there is no risk of material failure, meaning the cartridge wouldn't break when dropped from this height.
Ideally, these simulations should be confirmed with an actual drop test of a 3D printed model. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this was not possible.
Integration
One of the last steps of the process was the integration of the various subsystems. The majority of this work was done using CAD modeling, ensuring the fit of all the components and making sure that proper mounting holes existed in the cases.
This model contains all mechanical components required for the pump to function as intended. The only major omission to this model is the connective wiring between the electrical components. While the wiring was omitted from the CAD model, all major electrical components (PCBs, Motor, Batteries, Screen, Buttons, etc.) are modeled and included. And, gaps between components have been left to ensure space for wires to be run should this model be built physically.
Lessons Learned
The FlaminGO project was a collaborative effort between seven team members. My biggest lesson from this project is the importance of teamwork and communication in group projects. It was very difficult, especially in a remote environment, to ensure that everyone was on the same page. Sometimes communication issues would lead to two members doing the same work, or making incompatible components. Throughout the course of the 10-week project, we were able to adapt and become better at communication and group work.
During this project, I learned a lot about microprocessors and PCB manufacturing. While it wasn't directly my subsystem, I learned from those team members the functions and limitations of various hardware and software techniques. I greatly improved my CAD, rendering, and animation skills through this project.