Design of a bead holder for thermal atherosclerosis sensor

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that causes plaque accumulation in arteries and diminished endothelial function. Because it is rarely identified until serious symptoms appear, there is value in a noninvasive technique for detecting atherosclerosis using characterization of endothelial dysfunction. Dr. Bowman devised a thermal sensing device to measure the temperature reflex of the hand subsequent to induced hyperemia. We created an interface that would securely and reproducibly place the thermal sensor in contact with skin. Our interface (the bead holder) was designed and redesigned until we reached a successful and viable product. The bead holder iterative design process involved creating solid models, rapid-prototyping, and finally testing the effectiveness of the interface. After our first production run of ten acrylic bead holders, we installed a thermistor in each holder and achieved a satisfactory fit. Moreover, the thermistor was easily oriented into the holder and fit snugly. We must continue the design optimization process to determine the best distance for the thermistor bead to extend beyond the holder housing to optimize fluid transport in capillary collapse. We will also consider fabrication alternatives to 3-D printing such as injection molding.