THE DAVINCI GROUP: A SECOND MODERN OPHTHALMOTROPE

A group of undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut Biomedical Engineering Program has formed a “club ” in order to more fully understand and educate themselves in modeling anatomical processes. This group is called the DaVinci Robot or DaVinci Group. Experiments to mechanically model the six extraocular muscles of the eye have been performed, each meeting little success. While researching methods that would lead to better success, the concept of the Ophthalmotrope was discovered. The Ophthalmotrope is a mechanical visual aide used in teaching the function of the extraocular muscles, prevalent in the mid 1800’s. The Group decided to study this device and ultimately decided to build one. The paper presented here discusses our third experiment, currently under investigation, that is, to build an Opthalmotrope. Difficulties with this task are lack of any information with regard to how to construct this device. Presented are descriptions of the Group’s initial experiments and research conducted into the construction of the Ophthalmotrpe. In the main body of the presented paper is a description of how the DaVinci Group Ophthalmotrope is constructed. Concluding is a discussion of the progress of the construction of the Ophthalmotrope along with a brief listing of research conducted in order to build the device