Research
Capstone I - Fall 2024
As a graduating senior, I have had the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills I have gained throughout my academic journey to a real-world engineering project. One of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate career has been participating in the Synapse program, facilitated by Mayo Clinic. My team was one of five groups selected to take part in this initiative, where we were assigned a project focused on preventing drug diversion and improving the automation of drug dispensing across various healthcare facilities. Recognizing the impact this project could have on patient safety and medication management, my team and I committed to participating in this internship program through our graduation from ASU in Spring 2025.
Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, we worked closely with faculty advisors and clinical mentors to develop our concept design. This process involved extensive research into existing drug dispensing technologies, as well as analyzing gaps and inefficiencies in current systems. After numerous brainstorming sessions and technical evaluations, we proposed the development of a drug-dispensing cabinet controlled and monitored by licensed physicians.
Our goal was to integrate this device into the BD Pyxis machine, a widely used medication inventory management system. By doing so, we aimed to enhance security, accountability, and efficiency in medication distribution, ultimately reducing the risk of drug diversion. A significant milestone in our project was the development of an alpha prototype. This prototype allowed us to visually and functionally communicate our design ideas to stakeholders, gather feedback, and refine our approach. We dedicated countless hours to optimizing the system’s design, ensuring it met both technical requirements and real-world healthcare needs.
One of the highlights of this journey was presenting our work at the Biomedical Engineering Symposium, where we had the opportunity to showcase our proposed solution. Our presentation included a detailed poster display featuring our concept design, mathematical calculations, and referenced literature supporting our approach. Engaging with professionals and experts in the field allowed us to gain valuable insights and further refine our project as we move toward developing a fully functional prototype. This experience has been beneficial in my engineering career by providing hands-on experience in problem-solving, collaboration, and real-world application of technical knowledge. I am excited to continue working on this project and to contribute to meaningful innovations in healthcare technology.
Capstone II - Spring 2025
.jpeg)
During the Spring 2025 semester, I enrolled in BME490: Biomedical Engineering Capstone II to further my project with the Mayo Clinic Synapse Program. Over the course of this semester, my team and I refined our device model and transitioned to the testing and verification and validation stages of prototyping. I was held responsible for the custom built actuator component, which would open and close the cabinet when a nurse would interact with the device. In doing so, I 3D printed various parts and contributed to an Arduino program code for this piece to perform well. Our team tested our device by purchasing over the counter medications and placing them in the cabinet to produce voltage output data. These results would display the weight measurements, ensuring it was the correct amount.
​​
Since the purpose of this project was focused on developing a solution to prevent drug diversion in clinical settings, it correlated well with my chosen GCSP theme of Health. I refined my skills at prototyping, design and development, coding, and 3D printing. I also had the opportunity to shadow physicians at Mayo Clinic and expand my communication skills. Through this experience, I was able to put my knowledge and skills to the test by given a real world situation. I am now much more confident in my ability to transition into the workforce and apply what I have learned at ASU to become a biomedical engineer.