Infant Incubator

Low-cost neo-natal incubation for underdeveloped areas

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The infant incubator project is to create a low-cost, low-power incubator to be implemented in maternity waiting homes often found in remote areas of the developing world. The United Nations predicts that between 2019 and 2030 nearly 50 million children will die, with half of those being newborn children. The infant incubator team believes that many of these newborn-related deaths could be prevented if there was a low cost incubation device that could control the infant’s external environment and increase the quality of postnatal care.

DESIGN

PROTOTYPING

MANUFACTURING

PROJECT SCOPE

SUB TEAMS

HOUSING

The housing sub-team’s main focus is working on the physical elements that make up the incubator structure. This team relies heavily on CAD design and 3D printing to accomplish this goal.The incubator structure needs to be modular and manufacturable for ease of transportation and assembly. In addition, the housing designs need to remain cost effective while keeping infant safety a priority. This sub-team is currently challenged with putting together the latest prototype for the incubator and coordinating with all other sub-teams to make sure this prototype accommodates all the work each subteam has accomplished.

VITALS

The vital sub-team uses a MAX30102 sensor to measure the temperature and heart rate of the infant. They have been prototyping sensor casings to figure out what design meets medical standards. They are carrying out a variety of testing to ensure that their designed sensor casing is the one that best meets the needs of the infant.

HUMIDITY

The humidity sub-team focuses on providing the infant with its necessary humidity. The humidity sub-team has carefully procured a Carepod Mini Humidifier. It is their job to incorporate the humidifier into the infant incubator ensuring that it provides the correct amount of humidity to the infant. This sub-team is using an actuator and Arduino IDE to incorporate the humidifier into the infant incubator.

TEMPERATURE

The temperature sub-team focuses on maintaining a suitable environment inside of the incubator to ensure that an infant’s health and well-being is satisfied. Currently this sub-team is challenged with incorporating a fan and a heater. It is their job to procure suitable devices and to calculate the necessary airflow and temperature, all while prioritizing the health of the infant.

CONTROLS

The controls sub-team uses Arduino Ide to code various aspects of the incubator. Coding these aspects allows for the infant incubator to meet the needs of the infant. This sub-team has coded a visual and audible alarm system where an LED light lights up and a buzzer sounds when the infant’s heart rate, temperature, or humidity is out of normal bound. Additionally, the controls sub-team has coded a display and buttons to make a user interface for the incubator. This sub-team will also assist in incorporating fans, humidifiers, heaters, and the other necessary components to regulate the environment of the incubator.