Stork plug

grabcad

This product will solve the problems created by conventional catheter plugs. When one thinks of problems to solve in the medical field, they often don't think of a catheter. However, the issue exists. Many doctors (and patients) have complained how the plastic plug can either become too hard to remove or how it can be too hard to be put back in after it has been removed. On top of that there are very few plug designs, none of which really solve these issues.This prototype, however, does. Using a two part design it completely removes the need for the patient to remove the plug. The base feature is hollow and has a thread feature on the top and tapers down the length, the tapered portion would go in the catheter and lock it into place and stop just before the threads would enter, leaving them exposed. This is where the second part comes in, the second part is a cap with another thread feature. The cap would screw on to the threads of the base and the cap would be the only thing that a patient would have to remove.This product will not have a great impact on the everyday life of most people, but it should make small but needed quality of life improvements for doctors as well as people who use catheters. The plug and cap were both created with Dremel 3D printer using PLA plastics, it is cost effective and can be easily recreated using any 3D printer, both parts take a total of about 45 minutes to printSchool: Grand Haven High SchoolInstructor: Jeremy Case