CAD Modeling Experiences

I have now waded through the complicated stages of CAD design... it was more complicated than I had anticipated. But I am extremely satisfied with my results. I began this stage by simply taking tutorials on SolidWorks to get my bearings but I wasn't learning how to do things fast enough or specific enough to my project design. Consequently, I just dove in and started designing by myself and got lost. If it wasn't for the guidance of my advisors I wouldn't have gotten very far. I don't mean to sound like a grammy acceptance speech but before I talk anymore about CAD design I need to thank -------, ---------, ---------, and ----------- and YouTube for all of guidance because without them I would have been completely lost.

Figure 1
Mano Thrubrikar's Valve Design Sketch

Figure 2
Annulus sketch

The goal of this software program is to simplify industrial design. You take a theoretic idea, and design a three dimensional representation. After the literature the view of Mano Thrubrikar's Aortic Valve I had my sketch. My first sketch is composed of the basic dimensions of the valve. If you look at both figures one and two, you can see the similarities in the curvature, shape and design between the valve design and my boy Mano Thrubrikar's model. The reason why I chose to base my sketch of of this specific researchers is: 1) Its dimensions and relationships were taken from dozens of clinical case studies and 2) It was in a really interesting book my advisor lent me. But don't worry, the former is the main reason. By far the most difficult part of this design was the development of the sinuses. Theses are the "bumps" that protrude from the aorta.

Figure 3
Mock Annulus

After the sketch was developed I had to turn it into a three dimensional creation. Thanks to several tools within solid works it became fairly simple. I had to extend the base, give it a wall thickness and check the dimensions one last time before finally extruding it. The result was figure 3. (Note that the flares at the end of the model are so it will fit into the left heart simulator. That portion is not physiologically accurate to the aortic root)

Figure 4
Mold of Annulus

 The final part of my CAD experience this week was developing molds. Having a three dimensional representation of a the aortic root is perfectly fine, but it is completely useless if I can't create it. So with the guidance and suggestions of several advisors, a three part mold was developed. It would be made up of a center pedestal with two interlocking faces  that will surround the pedestal. The faces will be attached to the pedestal by four screws and then the entire thing will be sealed off with zip ties. The silicone will be injected through a small injection port at the top of the mold. Figure 4 is what it looks like when one face is attached to the centerpedestal. The part encircled in blue on figure three is the space that the silicone will occupy when injected.

With the mold design that I have made I will be able to go back and make adjustments if necessary. But at this point in time I have the green light approval from my advisors, so I am off to the 3D printer! So far this point in the project has been my favorite. My advisors have truly shown me what it is like to be an engineer and take an idea and turn it into a physical representation.

And who knows? If I have the time, I might even build a three dimensional model of BASIS Flagstaff on Solid works. Yeah, you can do that.

Thank you for taking the time to read through one of my posts. Please comment if you have any questions or just want to be heard. I look forward to responding.