Phlebotomy is a routine task, performed over a billion times annually in the United States alone, that is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. We designed and constructed Phlebot, a robotic assistive device that uses near- infrared imaging and force-feedback to guide a needle into a forearm vein for blood sample collection or intravenous catheterization. Through initial validation on phantoms, we show that it is feasible to automate phlebotomy reliably. We envision the device to be a first major step towards more affordable point-of-care testing and diagnostic healthcare systems. In the long term, we expect that Phlebot will expedite healthcare delivery and drastically reduce needle stick injuries, instances of hemolysis, and infections caused by blood-borne pathogens.

• 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

• Kesari, Anurag Krishna
• Weaver, Sean Michael
• Carvalho, Paulo Alberto

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043015-133216

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

Advisor

• Fischer, Gregory S.
• Flaherty, Patrick J.

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Interdisciplinary
• Robotics Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-01-20