Poster Y4 - Design of a feeding pump for premature babies in low to middle income countries

Friday, October 25, 2024

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EST

Location: Exhibit Hall E, F & G

Presenting Author(s)

Audrey Tetteh

Clinical conduct associate
Celerion
PEORIA, Arizona, United States

Primary Investigator(s)

Solomon Mensah

Assistant Professor
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Sutton, Massachusetts, United States

Co-Author(s)

DA

Dirk Albrecht

Associate Professor
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, United States
NA

Nathaniel Adibuer

Resident Engineer
Augmentation Lab, United States
MK

Mark Kuuziile

Teaching Assistant
University of Ghana
Accra, Ghana

Moderator(s)

DA

Douglas Ayitey

Senior Lab Manager
University of Ghana, United States

Co-Author(s)

jW

julie Webster

R&D Engineer II
Spryte Medical, United States
AD

Akansha Deshpande

HTM Clinical Engineer I
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, United States

Moderator(s)

Et

Elvis tiburu

Professor
University of Ghana, United States

Co-Author(s)

JH

Joelle Hanley

Biomedical Engineer
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, United States
TI

Ting Isabella

Analyst
Husband Retail, United States

Introduction: Premature births are a significant global health challenge, with approximately 147 million births occurring annually, translating to about 402 thousand daily births worldwide . Among these, around 15 million are premature, and more than 3 million of these preterm infants die within their first month of life. The overwhelming majority of these deaths, over 90%, occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) . A major contributor to these high mortality rates is infant malnutrition and inadequate oral and respiratory control, which accounts for about 98% of these deaths . Premature infants in LMICs face a higher risk due to their underdeveloped organs, which hinder their ability to coordinate sucking, breathing, and swallowing mechanisms necessary for effective feeding . Data highlight this disparity, showing significantly higher neonatal preterm mortality rates in LMICs compared to high-income countries .
In response to this urgent issue, we have designed a low-cost automatic feeding delivery pump specifically tailored for premature infants in LMICs. This device aims to provide a reliable, affordable, and efficient solution to improve the survival and health outcomes of these vulnerable infants by ensuring they receive the necessary nutrition safely and effectively. The pump leverages advanced yet cost-effective technologies to automate the feeding process, reducing the risk of feeding-related complications and promoting healthy growth and development in preterm infants. Our design prioritizes accessibility and ease of use to facilitate widespread adoption in resource-limited settings, ultimately aiming to reduce the high mortality rates associated with preterm births in these regions .

Materials and

Methods: The device was designed using a combination of hardware and software components to ensure accurate and reliable feeding for preterm babies. The microcontroller ATMEGA328p was used as the central processing unit, interfaced with various sensors and actuators. The sensors included the DHT22 for temperature and humidity measurements and the ACS712 for current sensing. The power supply unit utilized LM7805 voltage regulators to step down the input voltage and ensure stable operation of the microcontroller and sensors. Decoupling capacitors were used at the input and output of the LM7805 to suppress high-frequency noise and maintain voltage stability. The peristaltic pump, driven by a motor controller, was selected for its ability to provide precise and controlled fluid delivery. The system was designed using EasyEDA software for circuit design and Fritzing software for breadboard connections. The components were soldered onto a perforated board to create a compact and durable assembly. For the casing, 3D printing with HD PLA material was chosen due to its safety, ease of use, and environmental friendliness. The design was validated through a series of tests, including flow rate and voltage measurements, to ensure the system met the required specifications for neonatal feeding.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: Results
The automated neonatal feeding system demonstrated reliable performance across various tests. The flow rate tests showed the device could consistently deliver breast milk at rates ranging from 5 ml to 15 ml per minute, with a maximum error margin of ±3 ml. Volume delivery tests indicated that the system accurately administered specified volumes between 20 ml and 60 ml. The temperature sensor maintained milk within the optimal temperature range, ensuring the safety and nutritional integrity of the feed. The alert system effectively notified caregivers of any issues, such as deviations in flow rate or temperature. These results indicate that the system meets the essential requirements for neonatal feeding in low-resource settings.

Conclusions
The development of an automated neonatal feeding system has the potential to significantly improve the care of premature infants in LMICs. By providing accurate and reliable delivery of breast milk, this system can alleviate the burden on healthcare professionals and ensure that preterm infants receive the necessary nutrition for healthy development. The successful implementation and testing of the device suggest it is a viable solution for addressing the high mortality rates associated with premature births in resource-limited environments. Further refinements and large-scale testing are recommended to optimize the system's functionality and integration into existing healthcare practices.

Discussion
The design and implementation of the automated neonatal feeding system address critical challenges faced by healthcare providers in LMICs. The system's ability to deliver precise volumes and flow rates of breast milk can enhance the nutritional care of preterm infants, potentially reducing mortality rates. Additionally, the integration of temperature control and alert systems ensures the safety and reliability of the feeding process. While the current results are promising, future work should focus on scaling the system for widespread use, improving its user interface, and conducting longitudinal studies to assess its long-term impact on neonatal health outcomes. Collaboration with local healthcare providers will be crucial to adapt the system to specific regional needs and ensure its successful adoption.

Acknowledgements (Optional): First and foremost, praise and thanks to God for His showers of blessings throughout our design project for successful completion.
We would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to our project supervisor, Prof. E. K. Tiburu for giving us the opportunity to do this design project and providing invaluable guidance throughout this project. We would also like to thank our external supervisors Prof. Dirk Albrecht and Prof. Solomon Mensah for their guidance, motivation, and time. We thank them for their immense support and also believing in us to work on this project together with our teammates at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). We are extending our heartfelt thanks to WPI, Biomedical Engineering Department. We say a big thank you to lab manager Lisa Wall for her help with our project.
We express our special gratitude to Mr. Douglas Ayittey for his genuine support throughout this project. We would also like to say thanks to our international teammates, Akansha Deshpande, Joelle Hanley, Isabelle Ting, and Julie Webster for their help and contribution to this design project.