DEVELOPMENT OF SPINEBOARD

Abstract

This master s thesis is the continuation of a preliminary study conducted in the fall of 2011. The project is defined by NTNU in cooperation with Laerdal Medical. Laerdal Medical AS is a major manufacturer of medical equipment and training products based in Stavanger, Norway. They now want to make an addition to their spinal product line and offer a lower cost, but quality alternative to their existing spineboard (the BaXstrap spineboard).A spineboard is a long, flat and rigid board mainly used for the immobilization and transportation of trauma patients with suspected spinal injuries.As a basis for comparison of stiffness of the old and proposed new alternative, phys- ical tests of the BaXstrap spineboard were conducted.The new spineboard concept proposes a transition from the current rotational molding process of the BaXstrap to injection molding the new spineboard in two parts and joining them by hot plate welding.Through a part breakdown approach to the spineboard, constraint and possibilities for all design features of the spineboard were reviewed. This was based on extensive re- search through current literature, standards, competitor reviews, discussions with Laerdal and user interviews. From two final design concepts, a curved and tapered spineboard with features continued from the BaXstrap was chosen and another design iteration was performed.The results of this project has, in addition to en extensive product specification, been a CAD model, CAE analysis and a physical foam mock-up of the final design iteration of the proposed new spineboard. CAE analysis showed that the new spineboard can have better resistance to torsion and bending than the BaXstrap.Descriptions of the CAD model structures and how to prepare mesh and load cases for CAE analysis of the spineboard will be used as a basis for further development of the spineboard at Laerdal Medical.