Laasya Bosukonda       

 



Work  

Manta


Emergency transport tools fail to prevent secondary brain injury during the critical window between incident and treatment. 

MANTA offers a stabilization system designed to protect, monitor, and and improve patient outcomes.


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 





Rigid yet cushioned support securely immobilizes while maintaining patient comfort.


Buckles allow for rapid and secure fitting in emergency situations



Embedded sensors enable 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.




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.





    Target Market


    Military

    Military evacuations can take days with no tracking of patient movement or forces experienced during transport

    High risk injury environment that requires fast and effective treatment


    Cycle of Care


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



    Interviews

    EMS providers as primary first-contact users when the device launches. 

    Other stakeholders considered: combat medics, military doctors, medical device companies, ER physicians, and insurers.



    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

    Initial Ideas


    Visually exploring design ideas and concepts.


    Key Considerations:

    Compact

    Adjustable

    Restrictive


    Initial Plans and Prototypes





    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

      We tested the efficiency and accuracy of both the electrical system and the physical product.

      Key Insights:
    • It is easy to calibrate and apply MANTA to patient
    • Needs to account for different neck lengths




    Moving Forward


    • Test vacuum-sealed approach to packaging
    • Custom PCB for compact head movement tracking

    Back to Work

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