The overall project objective was to research, design, and implement a temperature control and monitoring device for the WPI NMR Research Laboratory at the CMMIC. A design need was apparent to transform a dedicated monitoring system to an expandable dynamic system. Research was conducted into relevant background areas such as MRI, temperature acquisition, temperature measurement, and current technology. An iterative open-ended design process was used to determine several alternative solutions to the design problem. The optimal design solution was chosen and built using virtual instrumentation technology, which provided a simple and user-friendly interface. A heater-fan system controlled by a derived governing voltage algorithm was used to raise the animal's core body temperature rapidly towards a user defined set temperature and then maintain that temperature throughout the experiment. The algorithm was optimized with high precision to mimic a critically damped temperature response with minimum overshoot. Experimental test sets were created to test the functionality of the system; first on water bottles and then on an animal model (rat). The resulting data was documented and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Through this analysis it was concluded that the design solution successfully met all specifications and objectives of the design project.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Connelly, Jill E.
• McLaughlin, Jeremy P.
• Cenotti, Amelia A.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 00D127M

Advisor

• Shonat, Ross D.
• Sotak, Christopher H.

Year

• 2000

Date created

• 2000-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright