A CHEAP AND PORTABLE WIRELESS INCUBATOR FOR PREMATURE BABIES

Abstract The leading cause of child mortality globally is prematurity. These deaths mostly occur due to unavailable or high cost of keeping babies in clinical incubators, which provide controlled environment for premature neonates. The aim of this project is to develop a cheap and portable wireless incubator for premature babies. The project focuses on reducing the causes of preterm death and, as such, incorporates measures to minimize such factors. Hence, the incubator’s other functions are to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and malaria. It has sensors to monitor vital environmental conditions of the incubator. It sends this information to the pediatrician to keep track of conditions that might affect the health of the baby. In order to maintain the set temperature continuously, the incubator can be powered from the grid and a battery used as an alternative. When in use, the battery is monitored with a battery level indicator. The incubator can maintain a constant temperature of 37C and when the power supply is removed, it maintains that temperature for a minute and then gradually drops in temperature. A basket is used as the incubator’s bassinette. The electronic components are cased and attached to the outside of the basket which makes the incubator portable. Buckwheat hulls was used for the mattress to help reduce SIDS caused by soft bedding which can lead to suffocation. The baby will be kept in the basket with the required dimension to reduce SIDS by avoiding instances of the baby rolling and having a face-down sleep as well as prevent bed sharing. A treated mosquito net is employed to reduce malaria.