Laasya Bosukonda       

 

Work  


Manta


Problem:
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often worsen during transport due to bulky, ineffective stabilization tools and limited patient monitoring, reducing recovery outcomes and leaving medics without practical solutions.

Solution:
A compact, adjustable device that protects TBI and CNS patients during emergency transport and records motion data to quantify secondary injury.

This collaborative project was developed by me and an interdisciplinary team, sponsored by Headstrait Labs.

Skills

Industrial design, Protoyping, CAD, User-research, Biomedical engineering 


Timeline

14 weeks - Fall 2024 and Spring 2025


Materials

Neoprene, Webbing, Buckles, Memory foam, Acrylic, Electric components

Tools

Solidworks, 3D printer, Miro, Sewing machine 





Acrylic-backed memory foam with embedded wires provides added comfort while securely immobilizing the neck and spine.

Quick-adjust buckles with webbing allow for rapid and secure fitting in emergency situations.


Integration of electrical components enables tracking of head movement during transit, allowing doctors to assess potential secondary injuries.


Material Choices


Intentional material choices ensure lightweight, compact design suitable for effective medical use.

Plan


Mapping out components and dimensions to guide production.

Manufacturing Costs


At a scale of 10,000 units, the estimated cost is $70 per unit where $10 is for mechanical parts and $60 is for the electrical subsystem.

This is a disposable field-use device, primarily funded through federal EMS support.




Process


Medical Significance


    CNS Injuries affect the brain and spinal cord, disrupting brain homeostasis.

    TBIs are caused by external force and include:
    • Primary injuries: concussions, skull fractures, contusions, hematomas, diffuse axonal injuries
    • Secondary injuries: CTE, hemorrhagic progression, blood-brain barrier breakdown, increased intracranial pressure


    Market Analysis and Gap

    Current tools like cervical collars and spine boards aim to limit movement but provide no feedback on their effectiveness. During transport, especially in military settings, there is no way to track patient motion, leaving a critical gap in preventing further injury in TBI cases. 

    These devices suffer from lack of comfort, poor sizing options, and low efficiency in emergency situations.




    Cycle of Care


    The care cycle for a traumatic injury, highlighting key stages, challenges, and intervention points.

    Concept  Map


    Mapping the users, their needs, and how design can effectively meet them.

    Needs Addressed



    Listing and prioritizing key needs to focus the design on critical challenges


    Target Market

      Military
          
    • Military evacuations can take days, with no device tracking the forces patients experience en route.
    • TBI patients subject to movement during transport, especially in military patient evacuation
    • High risk injury environment and requires fast and effective treatment

    Initial Plans and Prototypes


    Defining the structure and exploring how the device can collapse for compact storage and easy transport.

    Using CAD to visualize and refine the prototype’s components, understand how parts interact, and test collapsible features.


    Constructing the design at full scale and incorporating foam supports to explore structure and stability.

    Electric System


    • ESP32 + Wi-Fi + SD file system
    • IMU & force-contact sensor 
    • Auto-calibration & mag-corrected complementary filter
    • Designed 3D printed device housing + working peripherals


    User Testing


    Electrical System on Rolling Cart & Spine-Board

    • Cart/spine-board pushes & stops yield crisp acceleration spikes and matching angle shifts
    • Stable baseline between events confirms drift rejection


    Electrical System on Vehicle Road Test

    • Electronics-only unit driven over cobblestone road shows large spikes during motion and at two dips
    • Flat baseline whenever stationary before turns


    EMS Testing

    • Easy to calibrate and apply MANTA to patient
    • Needs to account for different neck lengths
    • Does not have as much support as a C Collar
      • Integrate MANTA with a C collar


    Moving Forward


    • Increase the amount of support provided by the mechanical system
    • Adjust the head strap to be able to fit people of different neck lengths
    • Test vacuum-sealed approach to packaging
    • Custom PCB for compact head movement tracking

    Back to Work

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