Blood, fat, and anything else that gets in the way can make things tricky for surgeons. To clear the way, a vacuum tube is used to suck away the debris and give doctors a clear field of view. The problem is that the system for suctioning the debris can get clogged - a lot.
That’s where the students of Engineering Innovation & Design (ENAS 118) come in. Taught by SEAS senior research scientist Larry Wilen and SEAS Deputy Dean Vince Wilczynski, the course taps the expertise of faculty and staff from numerous disciplines throughout Yale. Each of these experts tasks a student team with a problem to solve.