An internal fecal management solution to accommodate a wider range of stool types.

Student Team: Peachy Clean

Akhil Amin (LinkedIn), Katy Petersen (LinkedIn, Resume), Diya Sharma (LinkedIn), Jonathan Loi (LinkedIn), and Corinna Wester (LinkedIn, Resume)

Sponsor:

Hudson Chancy, Becton, Dickinson and Company

 

Project Description: 

Hi, we’re Peachy Clean, and the problem we chose to look into for our capstone project was the connection between fecal incontinence and pressure ulcers in clinical settings. The treatment of pressure ulcers costs the US Healthcare system an estimated $8-11 billion dollars per year. Within clinical settings, fecal incontinence has a prevalence between 16% and 30% and may be even more in an ICU or ward where a high percentage of patients are sedated or ventilated. Fecal incontinence increases the risk and severity of pressure ulcers, as the skin is exposed to increased moisture and bacteria, contributing to rapid breakdown. Incontinence treatments currently cost 9,771 dollars per patient without accounting for the severe wound care costs of pressure ulcers. Our team, with the support of our sponsor BD, investigated how to improve BD’s fecal management system, Dignishield, to handle a wider range of stool consistencies in order to decrease the prevalence and costs associated with incontinence associated dermatitis and pressure ulcers. Our solution draws inspiration from the biological peristalsis of the colon. Peristalsis describes the contraction and relaxation of the intestines to move a food bolus down the GI tract. We proposed a design that involved mesh tubing embedded in the material of a current fecal collection tube. The tube would contract repeatedly in a way that mimics the mechanism of food breakdown to further break down stool and allow for an internal fecal management device to accommodate a wider range of stool types.

 

Expo Video Showcase: 

 

Expo Poster Showcase: