Safe And Simple: Designing Miniature Computerized Tomography Scanners For Multipurpose Scientific Testing Within Research Laboratories And Classrooms

Bethany Spencer

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: David Kwartowitz, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University

Abstract

Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners are medical imaging devices that utilize ionizing radiation to view inside the human body and generate 3D scans. These devices are large, expensive, and have a high risk of radiation exposure. As a result, using one of these for the purpose of teaching and understanding the operation of fundamental imaging is complicated, cost prohibitive, and dangerous. We were tasked to create a simple and a more viable option. Through an engineering project, our lab worked to create and implement a miniature, white light scanner. The purpose of the overall project was to use simple, everyday materials such as metal duct working, Matlab, and SolidWorks to design, build and test a miniature and safer, classroom version of the normal medical CT scanners. This new scanner could then be used in future projects such as designing multi-purpose scanners that could potentially do varying types of scans. The first major part of this multistep process was designing the scanner. In the large spectrum of this project, this particular project focused just on design. A computer aided design program, SolidWorks, was used to construct and render the individual parts of the scanner, from base to camera system. The program was then used to test the structures before the building process began. The main purpose of this portion of the endeavor minimized mistakes and maintained cost effectiveness and time efficiency. The result was a completed scanner design that was ready to be used in future projects.

Start Date

4-11-2015 1:45 PM

End Date

4-11-2015 2:00 PM

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 1:45 PM Apr 11th, 2:00 PM

Safe And Simple: Designing Miniature Computerized Tomography Scanners For Multipurpose Scientific Testing Within Research Laboratories And Classrooms

Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners are medical imaging devices that utilize ionizing radiation to view inside the human body and generate 3D scans. These devices are large, expensive, and have a high risk of radiation exposure. As a result, using one of these for the purpose of teaching and understanding the operation of fundamental imaging is complicated, cost prohibitive, and dangerous. We were tasked to create a simple and a more viable option. Through an engineering project, our lab worked to create and implement a miniature, white light scanner. The purpose of the overall project was to use simple, everyday materials such as metal duct working, Matlab, and SolidWorks to design, build and test a miniature and safer, classroom version of the normal medical CT scanners. This new scanner could then be used in future projects such as designing multi-purpose scanners that could potentially do varying types of scans. The first major part of this multistep process was designing the scanner. In the large spectrum of this project, this particular project focused just on design. A computer aided design program, SolidWorks, was used to construct and render the individual parts of the scanner, from base to camera system. The program was then used to test the structures before the building process began. The main purpose of this portion of the endeavor minimized mistakes and maintained cost effectiveness and time efficiency. The result was a completed scanner design that was ready to be used in future projects.