Esophageal variceal bleeding is a medical emergency affecting patients worldwide. The need for a medical device for the occlusion of hemorrhagic esophageal variceal rupture in a prehospital setting is one that is unmet, leaving clinicians without tools for effective treatment of patients. The methodology for this project encompassed understanding the prior arts, crafting design specifications, and using design decision matrices to determine the most appropriate solution. This was followed by the creation and rigorous testing of prototypes and the final Var-Ex Tube. Compliance with the International Organization for Standardization was ensured and valuable insights from Nationally Registered Paramedics were gathered. The device successfully occluded hemorrhage in testing trials.The Var-Ex tube is under a provisional patent and constitutes advancing efforts to treat patients with esophageal variceal hemorrhaging.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ferreira, Guinevere
• Mahoney, Molly
• Dupuis, Lillian
• Percifull, Sarah

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042424-162029
• 121557

Mot-clé

• esophageal trauma
• hemorrhage
• esophageal varices
• prehospital
• paramedic
• esophagus

Advisor

• Mensah, Solomon
• Faber, Brenton

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042424-162029

Rights statement

• In Copyright