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Cuervo R, Rodríguez-Lázaro MA, Farré R, Gozal D, Solana G, Otero J. Low-cost and open-source neonatal incubator operated by an Arduino microcontroller. HARDWAREX 2023; 15:e00457. [PMID: 37538251 PMCID: PMC10393824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
An unacceptably large number of newborn infants die in developing countries. For a considerable number of cases (particularly in preterm infants), morbidity and mortality can be reduced by simply maintaining newborn thermal homeostasis during the first weeks of life. Unfortunately, deaths caused by prematurity remain inordinately common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to reduced access to incubators in light of the high cost of commercially available devices. We herein describe and test a low-cost and easy-to-assemble neonatal incubator created with inexpensive materials readily available in LMICs. The incubator is based on an Arduino microcontroller. It maintains controlled temperature and relative humidity inside the main chamber while continuously measuring newborn weight progress. Moreover, the incubator has a tilting bed system and an additional independent safety temperature alarm. The performance of the novel low-cost neonatal incubator was evaluated and successfully passed the IEC 60601-2-19 standards. In the present work, we provide all the necessary technical information, which is distributed as open source. This will enable assembly of very low-cost (<250 €) and fully functional incubators in LMICs that should help reduce neonatal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Cuervo
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
- Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Gozal
- Departments of Child Health and Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, and The Child Health Research Institute, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Gorka Solana
- Faculdade de Engenharias e Tecnologias, Universidade Save, Maxixe, Mozambique
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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Farré R, Rodríguez-Lázaro MA, Gonzalez-Martin J, Castro P, Hospital T, Compta Y, Solana G, Gozal D, Otero J. Device for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Low-Resource Regions: Open-Source Description and Bench Test Evaluation. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11185417. [PMID: 36143070 PMCID: PMC9503864 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11185417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Negative (vacuum) pressure therapy promotes wound healing. However, commercially available devices are unaffordable to most potential users in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), limiting access to many patients who could benefit from this treatment. This study aimed to design and test a cheap and easy-to-build negative pressure device and provide its detailed open-source description, thereby enabling free replication. Methods: the negative pressure device was built using off-the-shelf materials available via e-commerce and was based on a small pump, a pressure transducer, and the simplest Arduino controller with a digital display (total retail cost ≤ 75 US$). The device allows the user to set any therapeutic range of intermittent negative pressure and has two independent safety mechanisms. The performance of the low-cost device was carefully tested on the bench using a phantom wound, producing a realistic exudate flow rate. Results: the device generates the pressure patterns set by the user (25–175 mmHg of vacuum pressure, 0–60 min periods) and can drain exudate flows within the clinical range (up to 1 L/h). Conclusions: a novel, low-cost, easy-to-build negative pressure device for wound healing displays excellent technical performance. The open-source hardware description provided here, which allows for free replication and use in LMICs, will facilitate the application and wider utilization of this therapy to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Miguel A. Rodríguez-Lázaro
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julian Gonzalez-Martin
- Microbiology Department-CDB, Hospital Clinic-ISGlobal-University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Infectiuos Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Castro
- Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Intensive Care Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Hospital
- Intensive Care Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yaroslau Compta
- Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Service of Neurology, Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Maeztu Center, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gorka Solana
- Faculdade de Engenharias e Tecnologias, Universidade Save, Maxixe, Mozambique
| | - David Gozal
- Department of Child Health, The University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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