IGF::OT::IGF A COMPACT MICROGRAVITY AND HYPOGRAVITY COMPATIBLE VACUUM DEVICE IS PROPOSED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL…

Public award description

IGF::OT::IGF A COMPACT MICROGRAVITY AND HYPOGRAVITY COMPATIBLE VACUUM DEVICE IS PROPOSED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SUCTION AND CONTAINMENT OF EXTRACTED FLUIDS. THE PROPOSED ASPIRATOR WILL DRAW UP TO 40 L/MIN OF AIR AND PRODUCE A NOMINAL VACUUM OF 500-MM HG, WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE MEDICAL ASPIRATORS. THE UNIT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SEPARATION AND CONTAINMENT OF UP TO 1000 ML OF ASPIRATED FLUIDS. WASTE MATERIAL SEPARATION WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY A RETICULATED FOAM TRAP THAT WILL UTILIZE HYDROPHILIC ADSORBENT MATERIALS TO SEQUESTER LIQUIDS WITHIN THE RETICULATED FOAM STRUCTURE. THE ASPIRATOR ASSEMBLY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A SUB-MICRON FILTER TO PREVENT AEROSOL FROM ESCAPING TO THE SPACECRAFT CABIN. DURING THE PHASE I RESEARCH, AN EFFICIENT TRAP WILL BE DESIGNED AND TESTED USING A COMMERCIAL OFF THE SHELF (COTS) VACUUM PUMP. ADDITIONAL TRAP FEATURES WILL BE INVESTIGATED INCLUDING COLLAPSIBLE WALLS TO MINIMIZE STORAGE SPACE AND CHEMICAL RESISTANCE TO ENABLE SUCTION OF CORROSIVE AND/OR TOXIC MATERIALS. PHASE II RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING OVERALL ESM AND INCORPORATING FEATURES SUCH AS A TRAP FILL LEVEL INDICATOR, AN EMERGENCY SHUTOFF IN CASE OF LIQUID BREAKTHROUGH, AND AN ALARM INDICATING A BLOCKED AIRWAY, WHICH WILL IMPROVE MICROGRAVITY PERFORMANCE.