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Welcome to the wiki page for the Spring 2011 Digital Health section of ES 242

=__**Using //TEC//hnology to Regulate Core Body Temperature**__=

To design an autonomous thermo-regulation device to aid in controlling an individual's core body temperature. In order to accomplish this we will be using Thermoelectric coolers. These will be the focus of our experiment because they are a newer technology which has not been utilized to its full potential. Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) have yet to be applied thoroughly to the world of digital health. These devices allow us to heat or cool a surface area by passing current through them. Together with arterial targeting and the usage of heat sinks, we plan on completing a device which will be able to regulate the core body temperature of a person. This device will help in applications where an individual's body temperature is either too high or two low, ideally preventing dangerous consequences from the irregular core temperatures.
 * Our Objective:**

We are students from the University of Hartford'sengineering program taking ES 242 - Engineering by Design. This course is one of the many requirements that engineers are required to take which helps in the development of the design process. Together we are all members of the College of Engineering, Technology and Architechture.
 * About Us:**

There are many situations in which a person's core body temperature may need to be managed. The most important application would be in healthcare in order to prevent damage to their body. The project emphasized on the design process in order to solve our dilemma using TECs. The design process included problem solving methodologies such as: evaluation of alternative solutions, economic analysis, ethical constraints, group dynamics, and presentation techniques. The result will be a wearable, autonomous, thermo-regulatory device that utilizes TECs to effectively manage a person's core body temperature.
 * Our Problem and Solution:**

- A thermal image of one of our TECs combined with a heat sink.

**Our Societal Impact:** The importance of using thermoelectric coolers (TECs) to autonomously cool the body is because this field has not been explored by many and it will be a good breakthrough as the first autonomous thermoelectric cooled system that takes temperature readings of the body at the location of the cooling and self adjusts to regulate body temperature. Ideally through multiple designs and improvements, this apparatus will be able to be worn all the time and be used for medical purposes, thermoelectric therapy for injuries as well as to regulate body temperature of solders in the field of battle. The ideal design will greatly affect the ability to endure extreme temperatures at which army personnel can serve our country. In the medical field, the application of thermal therapy will be much less bulky with thermoelectric coolers used to cool the body. Thermal therapy will become portable and could be applied at the comfort of home with much less equipment then what is used today.

=Our Website=


 * Formal Site in Progress, Pictures Needed. Feedback Please, [|link]. Thanks Brenden**

The students in our project were broken up into groups in order to efficiently design this device in a limited timespan. The groups and their information are listed below: Programming TECs Sensors Power Research

__Credits__ //Professor Patricia Mellodge// //Brent Higgins// //Michael Vopelak// //Brenden Demanche// //Ferdinand Aliaj// //Joel Daniel// //James Hall// //Mike Jennings// //Taha Bosaleh// //Jerred Jordan// //Evan Thomson// //Enver Omeragic// //Anthony Marando// //Holly Sanchez// //James Pellissier// //Holly Sanchez// //Roshel Vas// //Jon Savarese// //Annie Becerra//