Syringes are inherently unreliable to use since a lot of focus is required to make an accurate measurement of volume, and so human error can play a large part in the accuracy of their use, especially when multiple measurements are to be made. The fact that focus is needed for each individual measurement means that it can take a lot of time to carry out multiple uses of the syringe.
The Auto-Syringe aims to improve upon the reliability and speed of measurement for multiple uses of a syringe, by automating the measurement aspect of filling and emptying a syringe. It will be designed as an attachment for one specific syringe size, and will only need to be zeroed for each measurement. This means that, as long as the calibration of the syringe is made accurate, each measurement will be made with reliable accuracy but with almost no focus required, thus reducing the time taken to make a measurement. It will also be a simple task to change the value of the volume between measurements, and so the user is not limited to single measurements.
Estimated Market Size
Our main market would be research labs as we feel that research labs would get the most benefit out of our product. Our device would make it easier and faster for researchers to make accurate measurements. Within the area of research labs, we feel that biology and chemistry researchers would have more interest in our product than within the physics or engineering departments. Therefore for our market size we are primarily based on chemistry and biology labs.
Within the UC Berkeley there are approximately 500 biology and chemistry based research labs. In California, there are approximately 160 Universities. Therefore, assuming each laboratory has at least one auto-syringe, our market-size for California is approximately 80,000 units.
Initial Concepts
Syringe Holding: Spring
Description: Spring hinges that clamp to the syringe and plunger to attach the syringe to the Auto-Syringe device
Pros: Quick and easy to clamp
Cons: Too long
Syringe Holding: Screw
Description: Similar to an adjustable wrench
Pros: Compact
Cons: Slower to fasten
Syringe Actuating: Rack and Pinion
Description: Stepper Motor that rotates a pinion gear on its output shaft to provide linear motion to a rack gear connected to the plunger of the syringe.
Pros: Easy to manufacture, low profile shape, fast movement, high precision
Cons: Less torque than worm gear
Syringe Actuating: Worm Gear
Description: Stepper Motor that rotates a worm gear on its output shaft to provide linear motion to a platform connected to the plunger of the syringe.
Pros: High torque, high precision
Cons: More difficult to manufacture, takes up more space, slower movement
Electronics
Description: Arduino mini, 12x2 LCD display, stepper motor, encoder for user input, encoder for stepper motor closed loop feedback.
Pros: Low budget, easily programmed, few parts, compact microcontroller
Cons: bulky screen, encoders can have bounce in output