CHAPTER 25Prototype of A Low Cost Neonatal

Incubator Using the Arduino

Platform and A Temperature

Monitoring System from An

Android App

Flávia de Cássia Martins Ribeiro*, Kamilla Paixão Castro␄, Jean Daniel Foro

Ferreira␞, Carolina Gomes da Silva␟ and Wellington da Silva Fonseca␉

*Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil

260 Chapter 25. Prototype of A...

E-mail: flaviaribeiro_27@yahoo.com.br

␄Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil

E-mail: kamillapcastro@gmail.com

␞Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil

E-mail: jdferreira1512@gmail.com

␟Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil

E-mail: fonseca@ufpa.br

Abstract: The neonatal incubator is a developed project that has the purpose

of to expand skills from the technical knowledge in Engineering and it is a

challenge if we consider the needs in the health technology field. Thus, de-

veloping and executing strategies that optimize the learning process is the

utmost importance to provide to the students some skills as pro-activity. Em-

phasizing the need to develop equipment for the improvement of medicine

and biological sciences in general, we have that, acquire equipment capable

of contributing to the technological evolution in the medical field has been

comprehensive, because the advances of biological systems and apparatus

that help the health professional became common worldwide. However, in

general, medical equipments are really expensive. In view of this problem and

261

the need for a new technological approach, a search was made to find some

economically viable components in order to make easier the access for some

professionals interested in technologies which could turn the diagnoses more

fast and effective. With this project, we intend to explore several concepts of

courses from the Biomedical Engineer department of UFPA (Universidade Fed-

eral do Pará), as well as to encourage the knowledge and development of new

technologies. This article presents a prototype of a low cost neonatal incubator

coupled to a newborn body temperature monitoring system from an android

mobile application. The prototype was developed by a software, it has been

tested and it follows some technical standards of installations and works from a

dome made of acrylic with several intelligent sensors such as temperature and

humidity (DHT11), piezoelectric sensor and sensor Of skin, those sensors con-

tribute to increase the incubator’s performance. The control of these sensors

is made by a Arduino platform which is currently considered easily accessible

for the creation of projects and prototypes for the insertion of knowledge in

Engineering. In addition, the Arduino enabled the monitoring process in a

simplified way, a example of that is the creation of mobile applications in the

Android language. For monitoring, the knowledge about the temperature of a

newborn is extremely important because the baby needs a specific care, such

as reading of weight and monitoring of temperature and pulse, which must be

done constantly. The neonatal incubators for newborns are essential for this

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process, therefore, the development of the low cost prototype aims to make

the measurements minimally invasive for the newborn, which helps in the

treatment and recovery, and also contribute to an low and effective investment.

Keywords: Neonatal Incubator, Health Technology, Low Cost Prototype, Ar-

duino, Engineering Education.

25.1 About low cost neonatal incubatorThe use and creation of health technology have big importance for the

realization of the comprehensive activities in health field, encompassing a set

of skills to promote the health, rehabilitation, prevention and treatment of

diseases. In this perspective, a multi-professional presence is so important,

being one of the main the engineer, in special the Biomedical Engineer.

Like this, this work’s objective is to show a low cost neonatal incubator

with a temperature monitoring system from an android mobile application,

idealized by UFPA’s Engineer Biomedical graduating. The project was direct

for a conception of an incubator because of the equipment importance on

neonatal field. Since this is a device specially designed to provide the newborn

ideals when suitable conditions when have difficulty adapting to the external

environment.

25.2. Methods 263

For monitoring, the knowledge about the temperature of a newborn is

extremely important because the baby needs a specific care, such as reading of

weight and monitoring of temperature and pulse, which must be do constantly.

The neonatal incubators for newborns are essential for this process; therefore,

the development of the low cost prototype aims to make the measurements

minimally invasive for the newborn, which helps in the treatment and recovery.

25.2 MethodsThe project was developed for a neonatal assistance to offer a low cost incu-

bator that offer technologies to facilitate the newborn monitoring, diagnosed

by temperature e humidity (DHT11), skin sensor. The monitoring will be made

by an Android Mobile application.

A software developed the prototype, it has been test and it follows some

technical standards of installations and works from a dome made of acrylic.

This information is essential for monitoring the neonatal while in the incubator.

25.3 Design software on 3DA software was use, a 3D modeling platform made the acrylic dome vision

possible and the sensor storage. This sensor was severally important to a new-

born monitoring on the low cost incubator, because sensor was necessary for

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development of the incubator control system. For temperature and humidity

control, DHT11 (controlled by Arduino platform) was use to read temperatures

and humidity. In practical terms, Arduino is a little computer programed to

process inputs and outputs between device and the components connected

to it1. The internal circuit make the sensor readings and communicate with

Arduino. Especially designers and artists that want to create easily prototype,

but do not need a deep understanding about the technical details behind your

creations1 use the Arduino in so many educational programs around the world.

Besides that, a LCD monitor 16x2 is also part of the assembled circuit; its objec-

tive is to reach the reading of the circulating temperature for the newborn and

to assist the health professional so that he is aware of the temperature control

of the newborn. In picture next, this is a software of incubator and your system

control built for arduino platform.

The Figure 25.1 shows the incubator and your system control built for

Arduino. The Figure 25.2 shows the prototype incubator on software and the

Figure 25.3 shows the 3D APP Android incubator neonatal.

An early warning system was also develop for accessibility in the neonatal

ward. The Android application, called “Baby Control”, aims to send information

about the temperature of the RN via Bluetooth for users who are monitoring the

babies on their shift. A quick and If there is any abrupt change in temperature,

the application prompts the user to check the Neonate. “Help” windows are

25.3. Design software on 3D 265

Figure 25.1 – Incubator and your system control built for Arduino.

Figure 25.2 – Prototype incubator on software.

also insert into the application so that it use correctly.

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Figure 25.3 – 3D APP Android incubator neonatal.

25.4 ConclusionsIn our daily life in Biomedical Engineering, we find several problems that

can be monitor and even solved. The technology ends up being restrict by

the lack of professionals in the technological area. Health informatics2 is a

branch of the course with the objective of training and encouraging students

to develop software,

Which facilitated the creation of the application for temperature monitor-

ing. Neonatal incubators have a high price on the market and for this reason; it

has been the inspiration for the development of a low-cost prototype that can

25.4. Conclusions 267

be use in the best way for newborns and their accompanying professionals.

For future improvements, other sensors are expect to be more precise

and accurate in relation to numerical values. As an NTC temperature sensor,

a thermocouple (electronic component capable of reading the immediate

temperature of the circuit in question) and modifications in the application

according to its precise values.

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