Design, Testing and Evaluation of The Thermobed Device For The Prevention of Brain Damage Due To Neonatal Asphyxia.

Abstract

Neonatal asphyxia is a significant cause of neonatal brain injury, morbidity, and mortality worldwide, often resulting in multi-organ dysfunction and neurological impairment. Cooling therapy is a widely accepted intervention to mitigate the harmful effects of neonatal asphyxia. However, existing cooling devices used in healthcare facilities lack an integrated rewarming function, necessitating the use of separate devices for rewarming after therapy. This creates an additional burden on both the healthcare system and infant families. The objective of this project was to design and develop a cost-effective and efficient total body cooling and rewarming device to address this issue. Our innovative design incorporates two Peltier devices and various other components. The system is designed to decrease the infant's core body temperature to 33.5 °C and maintain it for 72 hours. Temperature regulation is achieved through feedback from body and mattress temperature sensors. Once the cooling therapy is completed, the system gradually rewarms the mattress, raising the neonate's temperature to 36.5–37 °C. Throughout the process, continuous monitoring of the infant's body temperature and mattress temperature is enabled. The prototype was constructed using locally available materials and underwent thorough testing and iterative refinement to ensure its effectiveness in achieving the desired objective. Accuracy and usability were evaluated, resulting in an impressive temperature sensor measurement accuracy of 93.2%. Notably, the prototype was developed at a component cost of less than 100 USD, making it an affordable solution. Our proposed device enables continuous monitoring of the infant's body temperature and mattress temperature, eliminating the need for separate rewarming devices. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize neonatal care by streamlining the cooling and rewarming process and reducing the strain on healthcare systems and families. Future steps include further development and clinical validation to assess the device's impact on improving outcomes in neonatal asphyxia cases. The integration of this device into standard care protocols could significantly enhance neonatal care practices and ultimately save lives.