BEST ROBTICS 2003

TRANSFUSION CONFUSION

Game Description

1.0         Introduction

Best Robotics Inc (BRI) has decided to branch out from its normal retrieve and rescue missions to enter the field of medical technology.  To develop new medical equipment, BRI decided to take the low-risk approach of relying on established radio-controlled robotic technology. The business development plan shows that robots are more reliable than humans and require less pay than certified medical technicians.

So that off-the-shelf components can be used for in-vivo medical procedures, BRI has purchased a second-hand miniaturization machine capable of shrinking a 24-inch robot down to about 24 microns.  Unfortunately, the bargain-priced miniaturization machine is based on old technology, so the miniaturization effect is limited to 3 minutes.

Once miniaturized, your machine, and that of three other teams will work to move blood cells from various locations within a sterile field to a Cell Saver used for autologous blood transfusions. There are several blood vessels within the sterile field that contain various types of blood cells and a few green diseased cells.  The value of the cell to the transfusion process depends on its type.  Since white cells fight infections, they are more valuable than oxygenated red cells.  Blue cells, which are actually oxygen-poor red cells, are less valuable than the oxygenated red cells.

Although the miniaturization process sterilizes the robots, each team has a spot decontamination unit that may be switched on to ensure complete sterilization. The spot decontamination unit must be used in the event that one of the diseased cells is accidentally ruptured.

Teams must remember that one of the cardinal rules of medicine is “Above all, do no harm.”  Therefore, they should be careful not to damage any of the cells or disturb the vessels.

2.0         Objective

The objective is to design and build a remotely controlled device to safely transport as many blood cells as possible into your portion of a Cell Saver within the 3-minute time limit.

Send mail to james.payne@browardschools.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 10/12/03