Developing a Mechanical Model of the Inner Lumen of the Male Reproductive Tract; An Analysis of Current and Experimental Methods of Male Contraception

Both my technical work done in the capstone project and the STS research paper address male contraception, or male birth control. The capstone project centers on creating a model of the male reproductive tract that will be used for testing and training of an experimental male birth control method that is currently in clinical trials. The STS research paper aims to explore the development of current male contraceptive techniques, assess the efficacy of these current methods, and explore the development of future methods. I wanted to have a greater understanding of male contraception, the current male contraception market, and if there was a need for a novel method.
My Capstone project is done with two other group members with a local biotechnology company called Contraline. Contraline has developed a male contraceptive that works by filling the male reproductive tract with a hydrogel that prevents the passage of sperm in a similar way to a vasectomy works. As the product is still in clinical trials, there is a need for a model that can be used for testing of the hydrogel and eventually the training of doctors to use the hydrogel in a procedure. Contraline tasked our group to create physiologically accurate model of the male reproductive tract that can be used for testing and training. In order to create a model, we needed to determine the properties of the male reproductive tract. Mechanical properties and dimensions of the male reproductive tract are obtained using nanoidentation testing and histology staining imaging, and image analysis. The model is 3D printed using elastic resin and its properties are based off the values obtained during testing. Finally, the 3D printed model will be placed in a Humimic Gel to mimic the environment of the abdomen.
The STS Research paper will address male birth control, or contraception. It will address what the current landscape of male contraception is and what novel methods could be developed. The development of the two commonly used methods of male birth control, condoms and vasectomies, will be explored. The efficacy and mechanism of action for each of the current methods of birth control will be investigated. The development of these methods will be examined under the Social Construction of Technology, or SCOT, STS framework. Furthermore, new potential methods will be explored, and their efficacy as well as how they function will be explained. The potential development of these novel methods will be examined under the SCOT framework. The STS Research paper is expected to show that there are shortcomings in current methods of male contraception, and there are still significant barriers to the entry of a novel method of contraception to market. The research paper will be used to educate readers about birth control generally, but also help readers make decisions for themselves about their own contraceptive use.
The Capstone project allowed me to obtain technical skills related to mechanical testing and histology work on tissue samples. It helped me learn how to work and communicate in a professional and specifically an engineering setting. The STS gave context to the greater purpose behind the capstone project and the startup the capstone project was for. It highlighted the greater good of the project and the need for a new method of male contraception. It also highlighted the challenges that future methods face in trying to get to market and being adopted by users.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Technical Advisor: Tim Barry

STS Advisor: Bryn Seabrook

Technical Team Members: Amber Assaid, Olivia Luu