Papa Tick - Tick Erradication Device

The Problem: Combating Brazilian Spotted Fever

Brazilian spotted fever, a deadly tick-borne disease, saw a concerning rise in cases during my high school years in Salto, SP. Recognizing the urgent need for action, the Biological Institute of São Paulo hosted a seminar highlighting the dangers of tick infestations and best practices for mitigation. Inspired by this knowledge, I sought to design a practical tool that could address this issue with a team of friends at Instituto Federal de São Paulo.

Our Methods:

Fieldwork with Experts

To develop a comprehensive solution, we collaborated with biologists from Biological Institute of São Paulo. During field trips to learn how ticks are captured. These real-world insights formed the foundation for designing the Papa Tick.

Attraction Mechanisms

Through experiments, we compared the tick-attraction efficacy of:

• Dry ice
• CO₂ cylinders
• A chemical reaction using calcium carbonate and lactic acid.

The dry ice and CO₂ cylinders proved to be the best options for attracting ticks. Specially the dry ice, due to its low-cost.

Engineering the Solution

• Electrocuting Mechanism: Reverse-engineered an electric fly swatter to increase voltage output and designed it to operate with a constant voltage.
• Designing the Trap: Proposed a metallic mesh structure that separated ticks by life stages for targeted control.
• Prototyping: Using SolidWorks, I designed the model in 3D CAD and fabricated the prototype from acrylic, ensuring durability.

Results:

Our system demonstrated remarkable success:

• Eradication: Achieved 100% tick eradication in controlled lab settings.
• Sustainability: Designed a solar-powered circuit using a 115W panel, making the device energy-efficient.
• Innovation Recognition: Submitted a patent application, securing our position as a pioneer in sustainable tick control solutions.

Future Goals: Scaling and Innovating

With promising results in hand, after getting the patent approval, we aim to:

1. Miniaturize the Device: Make it more portable and user-friendly.
2. Integrate IoT Features: Enable remote monitoring and control for improved usability.
3. Test in Open Areas: Validate its effectiveness in larger, real-world environments.
4. Secure Funding: Apply for grants to accelerate development and deployment.

Conclusion

Papa Tick represents the intersection of biology, engineering, and innovation, offering a sustainable solution to a critical public health problem. With a commitment to refinement and scaling, we hope to make this device an effective tool in tick infestation management.