Designing a Human-Wearable Moulage for Hemorrhage Control Wound Packing Training; Analyzing of the 1979 Sverdlovsk Anthrax Leak Using Actor-Network Theory and the Conditions of Responsibility Framework 5 views

My technical project and my STS research topic are connected through the lens of safe and effective biomedical engineering practices. Biomedical engineering applies engineering principles to medicine, focusing on developing technology to enhance patient care or produce a desired outcome. While both topics are somewhat related, they vary regarding the aspects they address. In my technical project my team and I constructed a network of human and non-human actors to accomplish the goal of improving wound packing training and outcomes through real-time, quantitative feedback; so, to gain insight into how successful technology networks form and stabilize to make a working product, my STS research examines the faulty network that the Soviet government built and the resulting tragedy that occurred. So, even though the technical project and STS research topic examine safe and effective biomedical practices from opposite ends, the theme of biomedical engineering practices remains consistent across both. The technical project my team and I were assigned was to improve the current wound packing training devices by designing a human-wearable moulage for training to prevent hemorrhages. This device was constructed by combining 3D modeling and circuit design. Blood flow was simulated by using a peristaltic pump and stepper motor, and an Arduino was used to control the flow rate based on the amount of pressure applied. Combat wound geometry was mimicked by designing a silicone mold in CAD. The goal of our design was to improve wound packing training and survivability of injured soldiers by having them train on a device that incorporates real-time, quantitative feedback on wound packing efficiency. My STS research explores how to effectively integrate technology with society by looking at a past incident. The paper focuses on the 1979 Sverdlovsk anthrax leak, exploring how individuals and groups contributed to the leak by willfully making poor choices. My claim was that by only placing blame on a larger institution, it minimizes accountability across the entire program and conceals the entire truth as to why the incident occurred. The Actor-Network Theory and the conditions of responsibility framework are used to explain how the faulty choices of human actors in the network played a role in the manifestation of the accident and holding them accountable. The goal of my research is to increase engineers' understanding and abilities to build stable networks and prevent future biological tragedies from manifesting. Working on both projects simultaneously provided great value to both. The given problem in the technical project provided me with a greater understanding as to how actors can be better aligned to improve biomedical devices, which assisted with the research paper. Furthermore, the STS paper research helped highlight the importance of creating a stable technological network by looking at how the actors in the case failed to connect properly and how these mistakes can be avoided by holding individuals accountable and learning from the past. Overall, by working on both projects concurrently, I was able to explore how to implement safe and effective biomedical engineering practices and networks.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

hemorrhage, wound packing, moulage, medical simulation

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering Technical Advisor: William Pike, Sophia Caffery, Connor Parsey STS Advisor: Benjamin Laugelli Technical Team Members: Philip Mascia, Zachary Palazzotto, Sophia Raziel, Claire Trocchio

English

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2026-05-08