A Low-cost IoT based Infant Incubator: A Case of Mount Meru Referral Hospital in Tanzania

Physical adjustment to life for a premature baby outside of the mother's body is challenging due to health issues and other environmental factors. Prematurity is one of the most crucial problems in Tanzania since it contributes to a greater infant mortality rate. Despite the vital function that infant incubators play, the majority are too expensive for low-income countries to obtain and rely only on mains electricity. The fundamental goal of this project is to create an inexpensive, efficient, and dual-powered incubator that saves premature infants' lives. We are developing the system utilizing ESP32 as the MCU interfaced with DHT22, a thermistor for skin temperature, MAX30102 to evaluate heart rate and oxygen saturation in the blood. An oxygen sensor measures the air quality in the chamber, and a UV sensor records the light intensity of the phototherapy unit used to treat jaundice. The computed information is displayed and transferred to a webpage that tracks the infant's data. When the system detects a critical condition, it sounds an alarm and sends an SMS to medical personnel via GSM. The system adjusts the environment using a heater, humidifier, and oxygen valve included. The final design was implemented on a PCB and tested after a circuit was designed and simulated. The sensors are calibrated against standard sensors to receive accurate measured data, as then transferred via Wi-Fi through the ESP32 to a webpage for remote monitoring and control. The system saves the lives of premature babies, is low-cost, and is applicable in areas with limited resources.