S20_BENG493_Team6_HW1

We have been meeting every Monday and Wednesday for the last 2 weeks. Our to-do list for the last 4 meetings has been working on the tubing, finalizing the circuit and 3D printing a holder for the atomizers.

We have updated our tubing design, instead of having a full ring around the hat we will now have a U shape with the ends of the tube being connected to the atomizer. This will be done because we decided to have 2 atomizers instead of 4. By having a U shape the distribution of the water will become even. Also having a U shape is easier to create because we will not need to cut and glue the tube which can increase the risk of leaks.

With the circuit, we have decided to go with a 555 chip instead of Arduino, this was done for many reasons. Using a 555 chip allows for a simpler, smaller and lighter circuit.

We are in the process of 3D printing holders for the circuit and for the atomizer. The holder for the atomizer will be designed to connect the tube straight to the atomizer while also preventing leaks. The circuit holder will allow for added protection for the circuit.

Our plan for Wednesday is to attach everything to the hat, creating the final product and then start performing different tests to ensure our product is safe, comfortable and meets all the requirements. Once our final product is complete we will meet with our advisor and sponsor to have them test the product and give us feedback. We will then work to improve our product based on this feedback to create the final product.

MS has roughly affected  400,000 individuals within the United States in 1975 [1]. Since then, it has been reported that the number of individuals with MS more than doubled in the United States from the 1975 data and has been estimated that 2.3 million people are living with MS worldwide [2]. Currently, there is no known cause for how individuals develop MS; however, there has been statistical evidence showing certain demographics and characteristics can increase one’s chances of being diagnosed with MS.

The main problem MS patients face is being often home-bound due to the inability to hot weather. Currently, MS patients are constricted during periods of extreme heat. As a consequence of MS patients being exposed to too much heat, they experience nerve pain and muscle weakness [3]. Furthermore, chances of hot flashes and shortness of breath are likely as well. This is linked to how damaged myelinated nerve cells will disperse signals at a slower velocity [4]. As a result, communication issues arise between the brain and the body.

Presently, methods to lessen the pain of symptoms has been through medication and therapy. However, with medication, there are many side effects that cause many MS patients with milder symptoms to abstain from them [3]. In regards to therapy, it does not target not all of the symptoms faced when patients are exposed to too much heat, such as hot flashes, and shortness of breath [3]. Because of this, there should be a way to relieve the pain MS patients face in hot, humid temperatures.

[1] Multiple Sclerosis News Today. (2019). Multiple Sclerosis Statistics – Multiple Sclerosis News Today. [online] Available at: https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/multiple-sclerosis-overview/statistics/ [Accessed 27 Sep. 2019].

[2] Healthline. (2019). Multiple Sclerosis: Facts, Statistics, and You. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/facts-statistics-infographic#3 [Accessed 27 Sep. 2019].

[3] familydoctor.org. (n.d.). Multiple Sclerosis – Symptoms and Causes | familydoctor.org. [online] Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/multiple-sclerosis/?adfree=true [Accessed 27 Sep. 2019].

[4] Medlineplus.gov. (n.d.). Multiple Sclerosis | MS | MedlinePlus. [online] Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/multiplesclerosis.html [Accessed 27 Sep. 2019].