Hello and welcome to my first blog post!

This first week has been quite the whirlwind. Paula and I have been spending our time thus far preparing technologies and getting the proper travel documents in order before our trip. In the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) we have been preparing the technologies we intend to bring to Brazil and receive feedback on. Bringing Rice 360˚ technologies to receive clinical feedback is one of the main goals of the internship. As such, Paula and I will be bringing the following 360˚ technologies to Barretos:

• ACE (Anal Cancer Evaluation Model): The ACE is a cost-effective, detailed, and interactive model of the anal canal used to teach providers how to use an anoscope for high-resolution anoscopy, adequately visualize anal tissue and apply contrast agents, and perform an anal biopsy. It allows healthcare providers to develop the skills necessary to execute precise routine screenings for anal cancer on high-risk individuals in a low-cost manner.
• Cervix Squad (Cervical Cancer Thermocoagulation Model): The cervix cancer model aims to be compatible with the previously developed Rice 360˚ LUCIA model. The model is both inexpensive and made of non-perishable material to act as a mock tissue that is effective in teaching the cervical cancer thermocoagulation treatment technique.
• IV Drip Lock: In low resource settings nurses will often spend a significant amount of time adjusting IV roller clamps to administer set rates of drug treatment. Often times though patients or family members will adjust this flow rate once left alone resulting in improper treatment and potential greater sickness or death. The IV drip lockbox is an inexpensive, simple, and durable device that prohibits non-clinicians from adjusting the IV rate while allowing clinical staff to adjust the drip rate in a relatively easy manner.
• Wounder Woman (Negative Wound Pressure Therapy): The Wounder Woman is an accessible, portable negative pressure wound therapy device. High cost, limited portability, reliance on an external power source, and loud operating noise often make current devices on the market inaccessible or impractical for patients in low-resource settings. This solution incorporates all the main functionalities of a standard wound vacuum while mitigating the cost, environmental impact, and accessibility barriers for this therapy.

On a less technical level, Paula and I this past week have also explored the streets of Barretos on Google Maps and talked with Dr. Ricardo Reis, one of the doctors who works at Hospital de Amor, the hospital where we will be working, so that we can gain a better sense of where we will be going and with whom we will be working. In addition, we have also begun to brainstorm potential projects to work on while in Brazil. One of the other main goals of the internship is to work on our own projects while abroad. Nothing is set in stone yet, but hopefully, with this preplanning, we will be better able to find an adequate project once in Brazil. Stay tuned to see what we decide to work on!

Lastly, a personal goal of mine is to create a more structured and resource-rich environment for engineers who travel with Rice 360˚ to Brazil. Paula and I have identified a maker kitchen, like the OEDK at Rice, in a nearby university within Barretos. We hope to be able to establish a relationship so that not only may we benefit from the greater access to technologies like 3D printers and laser cutters, but also so that better prototypes and technologies can be created for those we are aiming to help.

I am sad to be leaving our space in the OEDK soon, but am extremely excited to see what’s to come in Brazil! I hope Paula and I can create lasting change and effects through our work abroad.

Tchau to the OEDK and oi to Barretos!