Final Project
Bioprinting & Aging Biomarker Device · HTMAA 2025
Project Highlights
Vision Board
Conceptual visualization of the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment system integrating grip strength, voice analysis, facial recognition, video motion capture, reaction time measurement, and wearable accelerometer data.
Intrinsic Capacity (IC) Coverage by Digital Biomarkers
✅ Strong coverage | 🔸 Partial/indirect | ❌ Not covered | View full table →
Multimodal IC Pipeline
Weekly System Development
Project Presentation
Final Project Spiral Development Model
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Development Approach: Following the spiral model methodology, this final project will iterate through multiple development cycles, each building upon previous work while addressing new requirements and risks.
Table of Contents
Project Overview
Design & Development
Weekly Progress (Weeks 0-13)
Project Introduction
[Project introduction placeholder - describing the bioprinting and aging biomarker device project.]
Project Goals
- [Goal 1]
[Details] - [Goal 2]
[Details] - [Goal 3]
[Details]
Timeline & Milestones
- [Milestone 1]
[Details] - [Milestone 2]
[Details]
Tools & Materials
- [Tool/Material 1]
- [Tool/Material 2]
Answering Questions
Documenting the final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, addressing all required questions.
What does it do?
[Placeholder: Describe the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment system functionality]
Who's done what beforehand?
[Placeholder: Literature review and prior work in aging biomarkers and intrinsic capacity assessment]
What sources did you use?
[Placeholder: Research papers, open-source projects, and reference materials]
What did you design?
[Placeholder: Custom hardware, software, and integration systems designed]
What materials and components were used?
[Placeholder: Complete list of materials, sensors, microcontrollers, and components]
Where did they come from?
[Placeholder: Suppliers, vendors, and sourcing information]
How much did they cost?
[Placeholder: Detailed cost breakdown and budget analysis]
What parts and systems were made?
[Placeholder: Custom fabricated parts, 3D printed components, and assembled systems]
What tools and processes were used?
[Placeholder: Laser cutting, 3D printing, PCB fabrication, programming, and testing processes]
What questions were answered?
[Placeholder: Research questions addressed and hypotheses tested]
What worked? What didn't?
[Placeholder: Successes, challenges, and lessons learned]
How was it evaluated?
[Placeholder: Testing protocols, validation methods, and evaluation criteria]
What are the implications?
[Placeholder: Impact on aging research, clinical applications, and future development]
Design
Your project should incorporate 2D and 3D design, multiple additive and subtractive fabrication processes, electronics design and production, embedded microcontroller design, interfacing, and programming, system integration and packaging.
2D Design
2D design work for the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment system:
- [Placeholder: Laser cutting designs for device housing components]
- [Placeholder: Vinyl cutting designs for labels and UI elements]
- [Placeholder: PCB layout designs and schematics]
- [Placeholder: 2D technical drawings and assembly guides]
- [Placeholder: User interface mockups and wireframes]
Tools Used: Inkscape, KiCad, Adobe Illustrator, Figma
3D Design
3D design work for device components and integration:
- [Placeholder: 3D printed device housings and enclosures]
- [Placeholder: Custom sensor mounting brackets and fixtures]
- [Placeholder: Ergonomic grip strength measurement device]
- [Placeholder: Camera mounting systems for facial recognition]
- [Placeholder: Integrated system assembly and packaging]
Tools Used: Fusion 360, FreeCAD, OpenSCAD, PrusaSlicer
Fabrication Processes Integration
Bill of Materials
Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project. Complete breakdown of materials, components, and sourcing information.
Bill of Materials
Complete list of materials and components:
Electronics Components
- [Placeholder: Microcontrollers and development boards]
- [Placeholder: Sensors (force, accelerometer, microphone)]
- [Placeholder: Camera modules and display components]
- [Placeholder: Power management and connectivity modules]
Mechanical Components
- [Placeholder: 3D printing materials (PLA, PETG)]
- [Placeholder: Laser cutting materials (acrylic, wood)]
- [Placeholder: Fasteners and mounting hardware]
- [Placeholder: Enclosure and housing materials]
Cost Breakdown
[Placeholder: Detailed cost analysis and budget tracking]
Make vs Buy
Strategic decisions on fabrication vs. purchasing:
✅ Made Components
- [Placeholder: Custom 3D printed housings]
- [Placeholder: Laser cut mounting brackets]
- [Placeholder: Custom PCB designs]
- [Placeholder: Integrated sensor assemblies]
🔸 Modified Components
- [Placeholder: Open-source grip strength meter adaptation]
- [Placeholder: Commercial sensor integration]
- [Placeholder: Existing microcontroller customization]
❌ Purchased Components
- [Placeholder: Standard electronic components]
- [Placeholder: Commercial sensors and modules]
- [Placeholder: Development boards and tools]
Fabrication Process
[Fabrication process documentation placeholder.]
Testing & Validation
[Testing and validation documentation placeholder.]
Individual Mastery and Independent Operation
Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable.
Individual Mastery
Demonstration of individual skills across all course units:
2D and 3D Design
- [Placeholder: Individual CAD modeling and design work]
- [Placeholder: Personal contribution to design decisions]
Fabrication Processes
- [Placeholder: Personal hands-on fabrication work]
- [Placeholder: Individual mastery of tools and processes]
Electronics and Programming
- [Placeholder: Individual PCB design and programming]
- [Placeholder: Personal debugging and troubleshooting]
Independent Operation
Project operates independently without external dependencies:
✅ Standalone Functionality
- [Placeholder: Complete system integration]
- [Placeholder: Self-contained operation]
- [Placeholder: Independent data collection and processing]
✅ User Independence
- [Placeholder: User-friendly interface]
- [Placeholder: Clear operation instructions]
- [Placeholder: Minimal external assistance required]
✅ Documentation
- [Placeholder: Complete technical documentation]
- [Placeholder: Assembly and operation guides]
- [Placeholder: Troubleshooting and maintenance]
Course Presentation
Present your final project, weekly and group assignments, and documentation.
Final Project Presentation
Complete presentation of the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment system:
- [Placeholder: Final project demonstration]
- [Placeholder: Technical documentation presentation]
- [Placeholder: Results and evaluation discussion]
Weekly Assignments
Integration of weekly work into final project:
- [Placeholder: Week-by-week contribution summary]
- [Placeholder: Skills demonstration across all units]
- [Placeholder: Progressive development documentation]
Group Assignments
Collaborative work and individual contributions:
- [Placeholder: Group project contributions]
- [Placeholder: Individual role and responsibilities]
- [Placeholder: Collaborative learning outcomes]
Useful Documentation
Helpful resources, documentation, and design files for the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment system.
Open Source Grip Strength Meter
A cost-effective $50 grip strength measurement system that can be further optimized for our multimodal assessment platform. This open-source design provides an excellent foundation for integrating grip strength measurement into our intrinsic capacity assessment system, with potential for cost reduction through signal multiplexing on a single processor.
Available Resources:
- Complete design files and schematics
- Arduino-based firmware and code repository
- 3D printing files for device housing
- Assembly instructions and documentation
- Calibration procedures and testing protocols
- Integration examples for data collection systems
Complete Intrinsic Capacity Coverage Analysis
Comprehensive analysis of how different digital biomarkers cover the five domains of intrinsic capacity (IC) as defined by WHO.
Legend:
✅ Strong coverage | 🔸 Partial/indirect coverage | ❌ Not covered
Multimodal Intrinsic Capacity Pipeline
Detailed technical pipeline for processing multiple digital biomarkers to generate intrinsic capacity scores.
Pipeline Architecture
Inputs
- • Grip Strength
- • Voice
- • Face
- • Video (motion/gait)
- • Reaction Time
- • Wearable Accelerometer
Feature Extraction
- Strength metrics
- Prosody features
- Facial landmarks
- Gait parameters
- Response latency
- Activity patterns
Embeddings
Features converted to vector representations for multimodal fusion
Fusion Layer
Combines multimodal features using attention mechanisms
Output
- • Overall IC Score
- • Domain sub-scores
Domain Scores
- Locomotor
- Cognition
- Vitality
- Sensory
- Psychological
Weekly System Development Breakdown
How each week of HTMAA 2025 builds toward the complete multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment system.
Week 0: Project Ideation
Initial concept development and planning
- Project planning and documentation structure
- Research direction and concept sketches
Week 1: Precision Cutting
Laser and vinyl cutting techniques
- Device housing components via laser cutting
- Sensor mounting brackets and enclosures
- Vinyl cutting for device labeling and UI elements
Week 2: Embedded Programming
Electronics basics and microcontroller programming
- Microcontroller programming for data collection
- Basic sensor interface circuits
Week 3: 3D Scanning & Printing
3D technologies for device components
- 3D scanning for custom component design
- 3D printing for device housings
Week 4: Electronics Design
EDA and schematic design
- PCB design for grip strength measurement
- Sensor interface circuits and signal conditioning
- Power management and data storage systems
Week 5: Electronics Production
PCB fabrication and assembly
- PCB fabrication and debugging
- Component assembly and testing
Week 6: Computer-controlled Machining
CAM and precision milling
- Precision components via milling
- Custom mechanical parts
Week 7: Input Devices
Sensor integration for data collection
- Force sensors for grip strength measurement
- Microphones for voice analysis
- Camera systems for facial expression analysis
- Reaction time measurement circuits
Week 8: Output Devices
Actuators and system integration
- Display systems for real-time feedback
- Haptic feedback for user interaction
Week 9: Molding & Casting
Forming and resin techniques
- 3D printing and molding for custom components
- Bioprinting molds and device components
Week 10: Mechanical & Machine Design
System integration and mechanical design
- Mechanical design for ergonomic device housing
- System integration and calibration protocols
Week 11: Networking & Communications
Connectivity and communication protocols
- Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity for data transmission
- Wearable accelerometer integration and data fusion
Week 12: Interface & Application Programming
UI development and application programming
- Mobile app development for user interface
- Cloud integration for data storage and analysis
- Machine learning pipeline for IC score calculation
Week 13: Wildcard & Final Integration
Final orders and complete system deployment
- Final testing, validation, and documentation
- System integration and deployment
Week 0 - Introduction & Design
Project ideation and initial concept development for bioprinting rejuvenated tissue and aging biomarker devices.
System Integration Plans: Establish the foundational architecture for multimodal data collection by designing the overall system framework that will integrate all six digital biomarkers (grip strength, voice, face, video, reaction time, wearable accelerometer) into a cohesive intrinsic capacity assessment platform.
[Week 0 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 1 - Principles & Cutting
Version control, laser cutting, and vinyl cutting techniques applied to final project components.
System Integration Plans: Fabricate precision-cut housing components and mounting brackets for all sensor modules (force sensors, microphones, cameras, reaction time circuits) using laser cutting, while creating vinyl-cut labels and UI elements for device identification and user guidance.
[Week 1 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 2 - Embedded Programming
Electronics basics and embedded programming for the aging biomarker device components.
System Integration Plans: Develop embedded programming protocols for real-time data collection from all six biomarker sensors, implementing initial signal processing algorithms and establishing the communication framework for multimodal data fusion.
[Week 2 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 3 - 3D Scanning & Printing
3D scanning and printing techniques for bioprinting components and device housings.
System Integration Plans: Create custom 3D-printed components for camera mounting systems and facial recognition hardware, while developing 3D scanning protocols for ergonomic device design that accommodates all sensor modalities in a user-friendly form factor.
[Week 3 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 4 - Electronics Design
EDA and schematic design for the aging biomarker device electronics.
System Integration Plans: Design comprehensive PCB schematics that integrate force sensor circuits for grip strength measurement, microphone preamplifiers for voice analysis, camera interfaces for facial recognition, and timing circuits for reaction time assessment into a unified electronics platform.
[Week 4 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 5 - Electronics Production
PCB fabrication, debugging, and assembly for the biomarker device.
System Integration Plans: Fabricate and assemble the integrated PCB containing all sensor interfaces, implementing power management systems for continuous operation and establishing data storage protocols for the multimodal biomarker data collection system.
[Week 5 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 6 - Computer-controlled Machining
CAM and milling for precision components and device housings.
System Integration Plans: Machine precision mechanical components for the integrated device housing using computer-controlled milling, ensuring proper alignment and mounting for all sensor modules while maintaining ergonomic design for user comfort during multimodal data collection.
[Week 6 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 7 - Input Devices
Sensors and embedded architectures for data collection in the biomarker device.
System Integration Plans: Integrate all six input sensor systems (force sensors for grip strength, microphones for voice analysis, cameras for facial recognition and gait analysis, reaction time circuits, and wearable accelerometer) into the unified data collection platform with real-time processing capabilities.
[Week 7 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 8 - Output Devices
Actuators and system integration for the biomarker device outputs.
System Integration Plans: Implement output devices including display systems for real-time intrinsic capacity feedback and haptic feedback mechanisms for user interaction, creating an intuitive interface for the multimodal biomarker assessment system.
[Week 8 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 9 - Molding & Casting
Forming and resin techniques for bioprinting molds and device components.
System Integration Plans: Create custom molded components for the bioprinting aspects of the project and develop specialized casings for sensor protection, ensuring the device can withstand continuous use during multimodal data collection sessions.
[Week 9 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 10 - Mechanical & Machine Design
Kits and mechanical design for the bioprinting and biomarker device systems.
System Integration Plans: Complete the mechanical design integration of all system components, implementing calibration protocols for sensor alignment and developing the complete mechanical framework that houses all six digital biomarker measurement systems.
[Week 10 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 11 - Networking & Communications
BLE, Wi-Fi, and communication protocols for the biomarker device connectivity.
System Integration Plans: Implement wireless communication protocols (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi) for seamless data transmission from all six sensor modalities, enabling real-time data fusion and establishing connectivity for the wearable accelerometer integration into the multimodal assessment system.
[Week 11 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 12 - Interface & Application Programming
UI and application development for the biomarker device interface.
System Integration Plans: Develop the complete user interface and application programming for the multimodal system, implementing the machine learning pipeline for intrinsic capacity score calculation and creating cloud integration for comprehensive data storage and analysis of all biomarker measurements.
[Week 12 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Week 13 - Wildcard & Final Orders
Final orders and wildcard week activities for project completion.
System Integration Plans: Complete final system integration, testing, and validation of the complete multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment platform, ensuring all six digital biomarkers work cohesively to provide accurate WHO-defined intrinsic capacity scores across all five domains (locomotor, cognition, vitality, sensory, psychological).
[Week 13 progress and contributions to final project placeholder]
Design Files
[Links to CAD/SVG/assets placeholder.]
Reflections & Learnings
[Reflection notes placeholder.]
Contributions
Acknowledgements and contributions that made this project possible.
Gladyshev Lab and Collaborators
Special thanks to the Gladyshev Lab and collaborators for the fruitful discussions that led to this multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment idea, which supplements my PhD research goals in aging and longevity. The conceptual framework for integrating multiple digital biomarkers to assess intrinsic capacity domains emerged from collaborative research discussions on aging biomarkers and healthspan assessment.
Ethical AI Use
Transparent documentation of AI assistance used in this final project work, following course guidelines for ethical AI usage.
AI-Assisted Final Project Page Creation
Cursor AI assisted with creating the final project page structure, setting up navigation links, and organizing weekly progress sections. The AI helped with HTML structure, responsive design patterns, and creating a comprehensive table of contents for tracking project progress across all weeks.
AI-Assisted Intrinsic Capacity Research & Design
ChatGPT was used to research and develop the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment framework, including the comprehensive coverage analysis table and technical pipeline design. The AI assisted with structuring the WHO-defined intrinsic capacity domains, identifying appropriate digital biomarkers, and designing the fusion architecture for multimodal data processing.
AI-Assisted Final Project Development
Cursor AI assisted with developing the complete final project page structure, implementing the multimodal intrinsic capacity assessment framework, and creating comprehensive documentation. The AI helped with HTML structure, responsive design, weekly system integration plans, and organizing the technical documentation for the complete biomarker assessment system.
AI-Assisted Final Project Presentation Structure
Cursor AI assisted with finalizing the project presentation structure to ensure full compliance with MIT Academy project presentation requirements. The AI helped implement all required sections including answering questions, design documentation, bill of materials, individual mastery requirements, course presentation structure, and spiral model development approach visualization.
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