Project Description:
In the intensive care unit (ICU) and other hospitalized respiratory settings, sputum characteristics serve as vital indicators of airway infection, inflammation, and mucociliary clearance efficiency. Despite its diagnostic value, current assessment relies heavily on subjective visual inspections, leading to high inter-clinician variability and potentially delayed therapeutic interventions. This project addresses this gap by developing a Point-of-Care Quantitative Sputum Analyzer (PQSA), a compact bedside device designed to provide objective, numerical assessments of key sputum properties within 10 minutes using a minimal 3-10 mL sample. The PQSA utilizes an absorbent polyethersulfone (PES) membrane to isolate the clinically relevant jelly fraction for dual-mode analysis: (1) an optical module that employs Hue-Saturation-Intensity (HSI) algorithms to quantify myeloperoxidase (MPO)-related inflammation, and (2) an elasticity module that measures structural deformation in response to a controlled air puff using a laser-camera system. Major prototyping results have successfully validated a Raspberry Pi-based image-processing pipeline capable of isolating laser-line displacement on artificial sputum substitutes, translating these physical changes into a standardized Bronko Test color score and an effective elastic modulus. To ensure reproducibility, we finalized a 3D-printed CAD housing that integrates ring LED lighting for consistent illumination and a custom syringe pump for precise, repeatable air-puff delivery. Beyond improving diagnostic accuracy, the PQSA addresses ethical impacts by standardizing care to reduce clinician bias and prioritizing global equity for high-risk respiratory regions. Furthermore, the design promotes environmental sustainability by utilizing a disposable internal sample holder to minimize medical waste while maintaining biosafety standards.
