Project Description:
Sepsis is the intense bodily reaction that occurs to combat bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. This condition can lead to severe organ dysfunction and potential death. Timely diagnosis is crucial in managing sepsis, as the risk of death increases by up to 8% every hour when treatment is delayed. Diagnosing sepsis involves indicators such as white blood cell counts, creatinine levels, and lactic acid levels in blood tests, commonly done through the BD BACTEC™ blood culturing system. As volume is the most critical variable for the detection of microorganisms in blood cultures, the BACTEC™ culture bottles require a fill level between 8 - 10 mL to ensure accurate diagnosis. In partnership with BD, our project focuses on the development of a proof of concept for the efficacy of an automatic pressure-driven blood-metering device that accurately extracts 9 mL of patient blood within ±1 mL to reduce false sepsis diagnosis. This entails integrating a pressure sensor to monitor flow pressure, a processor for volume calculation, and a servo to halt blood flow upon reaching the desired fill level. Our prototyping results demonstrate the effectiveness of a pressure-driven volumetric device for blood metering. Additionally, our design allows for a cost-effective and simple solution, ensuring alignment with the BD BACTEC™ system's business model to enhance accessibility while maintaining quality standards. Thus, we strongly encourage BD to pursue further research to develop this into a market-ready product to improve patient outcomes and contribute to effective sepsis management in clinical settings.
