02/02/2018
This past week we got started on two major tasks. First, Natalie took point with the capacitive touch screen display for the Arduino housed in the surgeon’s wand. She got the board up and running and is now working on mapping the screen so that we can make virtual buttons to enhance the Graphic User Interface (GUI). The surgeon will need to be able to use this wand to not only check the status of the patient’s SmartStim modules, but also to modify the current output of each.
Nathan experimented with etching circuit boards to create a protocol using our resources. These initial etched circuit boards will serve as breakout boards for all of the small surface mount components so that we can prototype with them. Each breakout board was designed in a CAD software then printed as in image on glossy sticker paper by a laser printer before being cut out. Then the “circuit sticker” was placed toner side down on a single sided copper pcb. Using a hotplate, the board was heated to 135 degrees Celsius before uniform pressure was applied to board. Then the board was allowed to cool, the paper was carefully peeled away, and ferric chloride was used to etch the exposed copper, leaving copper traces under the transferred toner. The next step is to repeat this process for the remaining surface mount components and then attach them so the next step of prototyping can begin.
This past week we got started on two major tasks. First, Natalie took point with the capacitive touch screen display for the Arduino housed in the surgeon’s wand. She got the board up and running and is now working on mapping the screen so that we can make virtual buttons to enhance the Graphic User Interface (GUI). The surgeon will need to be able to use this wand to not only check the status of the patient’s SmartStim modules, but also to modify the current output of each.
Nathan experimented with etching circuit boards to create a protocol using our resources. These initial etched circuit boards will serve as breakout boards for all of the small surface mount components so that we can prototype with them. Each breakout board was designed in a CAD software then printed as in image on glossy sticker paper by a laser printer before being cut out. Then the “circuit sticker” was placed toner side down on a single sided copper pcb. Using a hotplate, the board was heated to 135 degrees Celsius before uniform pressure was applied to board. Then the board was allowed to cool, the paper was carefully peeled away, and ferric chloride was used to etch the exposed copper, leaving copper traces under the transferred toner. The next step is to repeat this process for the remaining surface mount components and then attach them so the next step of prototyping can begin.