Project: Kidney Function Interactive
Venue: Children's Museum of Manhattan
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Date: December, 1998
Client: Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Contributors: Matthew Bates of Mystus Interactus (development, fabrication), Jerry Krause (exhibit design)

Description: This exhibit allows young children see and experience the basic functioning of the human urinary system. The visitor presses the button to "pee". The bladder is drained into the pot below it. The visitor can see the constant drips coming from the kidneys that fill up the bladder.

To speed up the filling we have included a fill hose into the bladder, positioned so as to not be noticed. This fill flow is turned off when peeing. The system has been optimized for a regular drip rate. Once primed the system does not require repriming after the exhibit is turned off overnight. For our part we have concentrated only on function for the bladder. The final bladder has been fashioned by the modelmaker. The cabinet surrounding the bladder has been covered in Formica and dimensioned according to design drawings. All non-visible surfaces have been treated with fire retardant paint. The bladder release valve has been placed behind the graphics panel so as not to interfere with the modeling.