Design and Implementation of Cost-efficient Prototype Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for Premature Born Babies

Abstract

A baby incubator is a device created to give premature infants a safe, regulated environment to live in while their important organs grow. Babies who are born prematurely do so under uncommon conditions, such as when the gestational age is fewer than nine months or the newborn weighs less than the average range of 2500 to 4000 grams. Hypothermia after birth can cause premature newborns' body temperatures to decrease sharply and considerably. Premature deaths are currently more likely to be connected to exogenous socio-environmental causes. The baby incubator is a great solution to this problem. However, the cost of the infant incubator is an issue. According to a study, preterm babies are more likely to die in low-income countries. Premature babies' survival rates in low-income nations are 30% for those born between 28 and 32 weeks and 1% for those born before 28 weeks, compared to 95% for those born between 28 and 32 weeks and 60% for those born before 28 weeks in high-income nations. This is because the infant incubator is too expensive to be employed in low-income nations. In order to solve this issue, we created a low-cost incubator for premature infants. Using an Arduino UNO with sensors: 1. A temperature and humidity sensor; 2. A gas sensor, the low-cost incubator being created can measure the temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide levels in the baby's environment. Then it will utilize a temperature control fan, a humidity control fan, and a gas level control fan to automatically regulate the environment. These affordable incubators can be produced and used in these low-income countries, giving prematurely born babies an opportunity to use them and live.