College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Biomedical Engineering
Date
3-2026
Primary Advisor
Christopher Heylman, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Soph Ziemian, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department Steve Van Scoy
Abstract/Summary
Spinal punctures, or lumbar punctures, are important diagnostic procedures used to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to diagnose issues in the central nervous system (CNS) such as meningitis. While these procedures are routinely performed on adult and neonatal patients, the current tools are not optimized for use on newborns. Existing spinal needles are often modified versions of adult devices, leading to challenges in fluid collection efficiency, user ergonomics, and patient safety when used in neonatal care.
The Newborn Spinal Needle Project aims to design and develop a spinal needle specifically optimized for neonatal anatomy and clinical workflow. The goal is to improve procedural safety, ease of use, and CSF collection performance by providing a needle that has the appropriate size, dead space volume, grip ergonomics, and steerability required for newborn applications.
The key stakeholders for this project include patients and families, healthcare providers, and hospital administrators. The patient and family group includes the baby, parents or guardians, and family members who experience the physical and emotional impacts of the procedure. Healthcare providers such as neonatologists, doctors, surgeons, Nurse Practitioners, and nurses are responsible for performing the spinal puncture safely and effectively. Administrative stakeholders include the hospitals, administrators, and insurance companies that manage procedural costs, quality assurance, and patient outcomes and experience. Each of these perspectives plays a critical role in defining the design requirements and performance expectations for the newborn spinal needle.
By addressing limitations of existing tools, our team will develop and test a functional prototype that satisfies regulatory, ergonomic, and clinical performance standards. This report details the project background, objectives, and project management plan for completing the project in a timely and efficient manner. Future testing will provide key quantitative evidence as to the device’s performance metrics, including needle dimensions, dead space volume and shape, fluid collection efficiency, hydrophobicity, and ergonomic usability for neonatal diagnostic purposes.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bmedsp/216