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Published on: March 19, 2019
Monitoring System for Operating Variables in Incubators in the Neonatology Service of a Highly Complex Hospital
Pedro Antonio Aya-Parra1, Andres Jacob Rodriguez-Orjuela1,2, Viviana Rodriguez Torres3
1Biomedical Engineering Program, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
Insights
This study developed an IoT-based system for real-time monitoring of incubator conditions. The technology enhances premature infant care by ensuring optimal temperature, humidity, and sound levels for improved survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neonatal Care Technology
Background:
- 15 million premature births annually necessitate specialized neonatal care.
- Incubators are critical for maintaining premature infants' body temperature and overall well-being.
- Optimal incubator conditions (temperature, oxygen, comfort) are vital for infant survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system for hospital incubators.
- To enhance the monitoring of critical environmental variables within incubators for improved neonatal care.
Main Methods:
- An IoT system was designed with sensors, a microcontroller, a database, and a web application.
- Data transmission utilized WiFi and the MQTT protocol to a central broker.
- Real-time data access, alerts, and event recording were provided via a web interface.
Main Results:
- Two certified devices were constructed using high-quality components.
- Successful implementation and testing occurred in a hospital laboratory and neonatology service.
- Pilot tests confirmed satisfactory system performance for temperature, humidity, and sound monitoring.
Conclusions:
- The system enables efficient, traceable record-keeping of incubator data.
- Automated alerts capture critical event information, including duration and timestamps.
- The IoT monitoring system provides valuable insights, enhancing neonatal care capabilities.
Background:
Around 15 million premature babies are born annually, requiring specialized care. Incubators are vital for maintaining their body temperature, which is crucial for their well-being. Ensuring optimal conditions in incubators, including constant temperature, oxygen control, and comfort, is essential for improving the care and survival rates of these infants.
Methods:
To address this, an IoT-based monitoring system was developed in a hospital setting. The system comprised hardware components such as sensors and a microcontroller, along with software components including a database and a web application. The microcontroller collected data from the sensors, which was then transmitted to a broker via WiFi using the MQTT protocol. The broker validated and stored the data in the database, while the web application provided real-time access, alerts, and event recording.
Results:
Two certified devices were created, employing high quality components. The system was successfully implemented and tested in both the biomedical engineering laboratory and the neonatology service of the hospital. The results of the pilot test supported the concept of IoT-based technology, demonstrating satisfactory responses in temperature, humidity, and sound variables within the incubators.
Conclusions:
The monitoring system facilitated efficient record traceability, allowing access to data over various timeframes. It also captured event records (alerts) related to variable problems, providing information on duration, date, hour, and minutes. Overall, the system offered valuable insights and enhanced monitoring capabilities for neonatal care.
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