(Preliminary) Lab Cleanup Procedure

Weekly Procedure:

Pre-Experimentation:

  1. Fill Nalgene container (to be ordered) with distilled water to approximately 2L
  2. Ensure all tubing is properly connected prior to step 3 to avoid leaking/spills.
  3. Transfer 2L distilled water from Nalgene container into the aortic compliance chamber
  4. Allow for water to fill system tubing and preload chamber
  5. Caution: pour slowly and do notoverfill aortic tank
  6. Seal aortic tank cap to close the system
  7. Begin experimentation

Note: Do not remove vacuum lines (this will be used to drain the system)

Post-Experimentation: (Option 1)

  1. Elevate aortic tank as shown in Figure 1
  2. Remove aortic tank Cap
  3. Insert one end of the drainage hose to the base of the aortic tank and insert other end of drainage hose into the Nalgene container
  4. Prime hosing to initiate upward flow and allow for gravitational force to discharge
  5. Allow for water to completely empty from system
  6. Remove hosing
  7. Dispense water from Nalgene tank into sink
  8. Disconnect ventricle pump from tubing and uncap preload tank and aortic tank for storage ventilation
  9. This is to avoid bacterial buildup

Post-Experimentation: (Option 2)

  1. Locate Nalgene container on laboratory floor adjacent to aortic tank as shown in Figure 2
  2. Remove aortic tank Cap
  3. Insert one end of the drainage hose to the base of the aortic tank and insert other end of drainage hose into the Nalgene container
  4. Seal off (empty) Nalgene container
  5. Turn on vacuum
  6. This negative pressure will force water out of the aortic tank and replace air going into the vacuum with the systems water
  7. Ensure all water has exited the system
  8. Remove hosing
  9. Dispense water from Nalgene tank into sink
  10. Disconnect ventricle pump from tubing and uncap preload tank and aortic tank for storage ventilation
  11. This will avoid bacterial buildup

Semi-annual Procedure:

In between semesters the heart model and circulatory system model should be drained and stored properly to avoid damage to the ventricle, valves, and seals, and to eliminate bacterial buildup within the system.

  1. Add approximately one liter of water at ambient temperature to the system
  2. Ensure system is ready for operation
  3. Run system so water is in circulation
  4. Before beginning step 6, use safety precautions
  5. Use protective gloves
  6. Use protective eye ware
  7. Uncap aortic tank
  8. Add 5 grams ofAlconox (1:100 Alconox to water ratio) to running water in aortic tank