Since 2019, the junior Control and Automation Engineering company, Mechatron, develops projects in partnership with the doctor and professor emeritus at Unicamp, Renato GG Terzi. He maintains an institute that offers training courses for first-aiders in the procedure for introducing a pacemaker using technology. Mecatron was hired to offer solutions to improve the course and a first phase, called Projeto Vida, is already being used to teach classes at the institute.
The motivation for the training courses arose when Renato Terzi identified a need in emergency cases to implant a pacemaker in cardiac patients. According to the doctor, general practitioners were often not prepared to carry out the procedure, making it necessary to wait for a cardiologist to arrive. The waiting time, however, is decisive for the patient who may not be able to resist until the specialist arrives.
Projeto Vida received an impact case award at a junior companies event in Brasília, organized by the Federation of Junior Companies of the Federal District.
How does Projeto Vida work?
The simulation method developed by Mecatron consists of the possibility of inserting a catheter with the pacemaker into a mannequin that would represent the patient with heart problems. The artificial veins are represented by pipes developed by the junior company that lead to the mannequin's heart, where sensors are installed.
Mecatron's commercial manager, João Vitor Crotti Figueiredo explains that the catheter insertion technique is fundamental to the success of the procedure and is the main stage of the course. "Through several sensors, it is possible to see on a screen whether the catheter is being inserted correctly or not", he explains. Every simulation is carried out with teachers nearby who provide guidance on the details of the process.
Pulse Project
Currently, the junior company is developing another project with the doctor. This is a continuation of Projeto Vida, which this time was called Projeto Pulso. The objective is to further intensify immersive learning for implanting a pacemaker. In this case, students intend to develop greater interaction between the pacemaker and the heart to carry out the simulation.
Once installed on the mannequin, it would be possible to configure the device to obtain a desired response from the heart. The simulation would be done in real time. "This aspect consists of an enormous technological evolution and innovation. In the Vida Project we use images and different sensors. In the Pulso Project we will develop something that is very close to the real stimulation of the heart. It is as if it were an artificial heart", says Figueiredo .
The student believes that the systems developed by Mecatron will help in the training of first-aiders by increasing their technical training. “It will save lives by allowing better care for patients”, he assesses. João Vitor Figueiredo also remembers that the work carried out by the company involves two of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which would be number 3 - on health and well-being -, and number 4 - concerns education and quality of life.
Junior companies
Junior companies (EJs) are student entities that give students the opportunity to carry out projects for the local community. At EJs, students can put into practice the knowledge acquired in the classroom while still at university and solve real problems for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. Furthermore, EJs charge values around 35% lower than the traditional market, collaborating with the ecosystem of micro and small entrepreneurs.
According to the Núcleo Campinas de Empresas Juniores, which represents the EJs in the city of Campinas and seven other cities in the region, last year alone there were more than 600 projects developed by these organizations. This year there are already 290 more.
Watch the video of doctor Renato Terzi explaining how the Pulso Project works.
