PROJECTS
This section has several of the projects that I have completed, whether through school or on my own time.
Medical Projects
Low-Cost Digital Stethoscope
A low-cost, wireless digital stethoscope enabling non-medical professionals to record and transmit heart and lung sounds to clinicians for remote analysis, supporting early diagnosis and care in remote settings. The system included a physical hardware device to capture and transmit heart sounds to a cloud server. The server accessed two databases, one for storing recordings and the other for user information, and digitally processed the audio signals. A mobile application was developed to control the device, where recordings could be taken and sent to clinicians. A clinician's website was also developed for physicians to review heart sounds and leave comments for patients.
Electrooculographic Computer Control
Designed and constructed circuitry to filter, amplify, and capture the electrical signals generated from eye movements using surface electrodes. Signals captured from surface electrodes corresponded to vertical and horizontal eye movements, blinking artifacts were collected and converted to 'mouse clicks'. Python was employed to process and analyze the electrical signals obtained from eye movements to allow a user to control a computer mouse solely with eye movements and blinking.
Prosthetic Hand
Collaborated as part of McMaster's Medical Engineering Design Team to develop an EMG-controlled prosthetic hand giving the user control of all 5 fingers as well as responsive sensation. Was a member on the electrical subteam, specifically tasked with designing and implementing an intricate haptic feedback system using Arduino, force resistive sensors, and vibration motors, to allow the user to control the prosthesis and receive tactile feedback.
Cerebral Palsy Shoe Monitor
Designed a remote wearable device to improve gait patterns in patients with Cerebral Palsy, specifically by monitoring plantar pressure patterns and foot orientation to improve two common CP features: foot drop and toe walking.
Pacemaker
Employed MATLAB Simulink to model a real-time safety-critical system through a team-based project of creating a pacemaker which communicated with a FRDM-K64 board to deploy various pacing modes. Performed detailed, well-documented analyses to debug the Simulink models and validate the functionality of the pacemaker.
Patient-Specific Cardiac Simulator
Assisted in testing, tuning, and running a patient-specific cardiac simulator paired with a patient-specific lumped parameter model (developed by Dr. Zahra K. Motamed) to simulate patient cardiovascular mechanics through the systemic circulation. The simulator consists of a network of tubes, resistances, and compliances along with a 3D printed ventricle and valves. Pressure transducers are used to collect atrial and aortic pressure information throughout the cardiac cycle.
Wrist Orthosis Device
Developed a wrist orthosis device to treat the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome. The final product was created using a limited number of materials. Planning, collecting materials, designing, assembly, promotional video creation and a 60 second presentation of the device were all completed in under 2 hours.
Hip Implant
Development of a hip implant for a specific patient. Diagnosed the patients condition using CT scans and X-rays. Plan to design an implant to improve mobility and load bearing, use CAD to 3D print a model of the device and present the solution. The implant was modelled using Autoddesk Inventor.
Wearable Pregnancy Device
Developed a wearable belt for pregnant women that uses an EMG muscle sensor to detect contraction patterns and alert women of when to attend the hospital. The device is also able to detect Braxton Hicks contractions and alert the user.
The computational prototype involves all circuitry and software to demonstrate the function of the device using bicep contractions. The tangible belt prototype is used to demonstrate how the device will be placed on pregnant women and used.
The computational prototype was made using a Raspberry Pi and coded in python.
Assistive Device
Developed an assistive device for a patient suffering from an unknown autoimmune disorder that results in inflammation in their joints, especially in the carpals and metacarpals. The device consisted of motors to allow the patient to grip and rotate objects such as doorknobs and water bottle lids. The goal of this project was to allow the patient to perform many more tasks independently without causing pain.
Robotics Projects
Arduino Sumobot
Developed a small (10cm x 10cm) robot to find objects in a ring, and push all objects outside of the ring while staying within the boundary. The bot was constructed using small motors, a single ultrasonic distance sensor, and a color detecting line sensor.
Digital/Electrical Projects
Student Number Display through 7-Segment Display
The goal of this project is to have my student number, 400238042, appear on a 7-segment display and continually repeat using a various of digital chips, flip flops and a clocking device. This was initially solved the analytical solution using state-transition tables and K-maps which were used to figure out how to design the circuit and the inputs and outputs needed. Then a MultiSim simulation was run with everything connected and showing the correct output. Finally the physical model was built showing the loop of the student number on a 7-segment display.
Digital Circuit Showing Factors of 24
In this project I displayed a positive output if the 4-bit input binary number was a factor of 24 and a negative output if the number is not a factor of 24. Implemented the circuit using NOT, AND and OR gates as well as solely NAND logic gates.
Paper Plate Speaker
This speaker works by using a current through a coil, which indices a magnetic field and ultimately results in the vibration of a paper plate resulting in sound. When the current flows the coil, it induces a magnetic field, this is then attracted to the magnet at the top of the speaker and pulls the plate upwards. When the current stops, this magnetic field disappears and returns the plate to its normal position. The stronger the current, the stronger the magnetic field and therefore the plate is attracted more and the plate moves more, resulting in more sound. When the current direction is flipped, as in AC current, the magnet will then repel the coil, which is attached to the plate, and move the plate away, resulting in more sound. When hooked up to the auxiliary cable, current is sent through the coil and changes directions frequently, thus resulting in a sequence of vibrations and sounds. This change of currents is organized, into a song, and therefore the vibrations are organized and can produce this song audibly rather than through a current.