This project is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. Developed through the combined efforts of Zelia Abubakar, a Biomedical Engineering student, and myself, an Electrical Engineering student, the smart phototherapy device addresses a pressing issue in neonatal healthcare: the limitations of traditional phototherapy systems.

Newborn jaundice is when a baby has a high level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break down the substance so it can be removed from the body in the stool. High levels of bilirubin make the baby's skin yellow and the white part of the eyes look yellow. (Stokowski, (2006). This is called jaundice. It is normal for a baby's bilirubin level to be a bit higher after birth. When the baby grows in the mother's womb, the placenta removes bilirubin from the baby's body. The placenta is the organ that grows during pregnancy to feed the baby. After birth, the baby's liver starts doing this job. It may take some time for the baby's liver to do this efficiently. (Calderhead, (2017). Most newborns have some yellowing of the skin or jaundice.Thisiscalledphysiologicaljaundice.Itisoftenmostnoticeablewhenthebabyis2-4daysold. problems. Babies who are born too early (premature) are more likely to develop jaundice than full-term babies. (Merck, (2024). A baby needs treatment of the bilirubin level is too high or rising too quickly. Sometimes special blue lights are used on infants whose levels are very high. These lights work by helping to break down bilirubin in the skin called phototherapy.

We recognized the financial limitations of building an entirely new phototherapy machine and focused on improving existing devices. By integrating IoT-based monitoring and safety features, our project enhances traditional phototherapy systems' safety, efficiency, and reliability, showcasing how collaboration and innovation can overcome resource constraints.

ProblemStatement 

Traditional phototherapy units tend to either overdose babies or dispense less than the required amount of irradiance, and that causes more harm to babies than the intended good of phototherapy. Prolonged irradiance causes more harm to babies than the intended good of phototherapy. The current phototherapy protocols often rely on manual monitoring and adjustment of treatment of light intensity, thereby increasing the risk of human errors and overdosing. Ineffective phototherapy treatment is associated with various risks and complications for newborn babies. 

Aim 

To develop a smart phototherapy protective system that accurately monitors and controls light irradiance, temperature and humidity to ensure safe and effective phototherapy treatment for neonates. 

Objectives 

1. To design and assemble a smart circuit for effective monitoring of traditional phototherapy units 
2. To construct a smart analysis system for traditional phototherapy units. 
3. To perform testing and evaluation on phototherapy devices. 
4. To integrate automatic shutdown functionality to turn off the phototherapy machine during abnormal condit

LITERATURE REVIEW 

Several devices and research have been made and implemented and accepted to be used to provide phototherapy. These include tungsten-halogen lamps, fluorescent tubes, fiber optic systems, and gallium nitride LED lights. All these devices are capable of emitting light in the 430-490 nm band at standard spectral irradiance levels of 8-10 mW/cm2 per nm. However, when intensive phototherapy is required, you either need to use the special blue, fluorescent tubes or specially designed LED devices should be used because these are the only devices that can reliably provide more than 30 mW/cm2 per nm in the 430-490 nm band.(Agrawal, (2001). 

TYPES OF TRADITIONAL PHOTOTHERAPY

1. Halogen-Based Phototherapy
2. Fiberoptic Phototherapy.
3. Fluorescent Tubes
4. LightEmitted Diode Phototherapy
5. Phototherapy with A Timer 

Design Considerations   

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022), guidelines for phototherapy in treating neonatal jaundice emphasize four critical factors that influence its effectiveness: 

Intensity Wavelength: Phototherapy devices should primarily emit light in the blue-green spectrum, specifically between 430-490 nm, as this range overlaps with the bilirubin absorption spectrum. This wavelength is crucial for effectively breaking down bilirubin in the skin. 

 Irradiance: The irradiance, or power of light per unit area, must be at least 30 μW/cm²/nm for intensive phototherapy. Higher irradiance levels correlate with faster bilirubin reduction rates. Devices should be calibrated to ensure they meet this standard 

Distance: The distance between the light source and the infant is vital. Closer proximity increases irradiance on the skin, enhancing treatment efficacy. The recommended distance varies, but phototherapy lamps should ideally be positioned within 10-30 cm of the infant's skin. 

 Exposed Surface Area: Maximizing the body surface area exposed to phototherapy light is essential. This can be achieved by using multiple light sources or combining overhead lights with bili blankets to ensure comprehensive coverage, thereby improving treatment outcomes. 

These factors collectively ensure that phototherapy is both effective and safe for managing hyperbilirubinemia in newborns 

Components

1. Arduino Uno R4
2. DHT22 Sensor
3. LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
4. Relay Module (5V)
5. 16x2 LCD Display with I2C Module
6. Buzzer
7. Red LED
8. Green LED
9. Reset Button
10. Push Lock Switch
11. Resistors
12. Zero PCB
13. Connecting Wires
14. 9V Power Adapter

Tools

1. Soldering Iron
2. Wire Cutter/Stripper
3. Multimeter
4. Screwdriver Set
5. Hot Glue Gun

Materials

1. Electrical Tape
2. Heat Shrink Tubing
3. Mounting Screws and Nuts
4. Plastic Enclosure

Software

1. Arduino IDE
2. Arduino IoT Cloud
3. cirkit designer
4. tinkercad

Description of the Block Diagram

The block diagram represents a comprehensive system involving an Arduino Uno R4 microcontroller to control and monitor a phototherapy machine, utilizing various sensors, actuators, input, and output devices. Below is a detailed explanation of each component and its role in the system: 

1. Arduino Uno R4 

The central processing unit of the system. It receives data from sensors, processes it, and sends commands to the actuators and output devices. It ensures smooth communication and decision-making for the phototherapy machine's operation, such as switching the machine on/off based on environmental data or sending alerts when necessary.  

2. Sensors 

These components gather environmental and system data for the Arduino Uno to process: 

DHT22 (Temperature & Humidity Sensor): Monitors the temperature and humidity levels around the phototherapy machine, crucial for maintaining a stable treatment environment. 

LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) Sensor: Measures the intensity of light, which can be used to assess the effectiveness or operational status of the phototherapy machine. 

3. Input Devices 

These allow manual intervention and system reset functions: 

Reset Button: Provides a mechanism to restart the system or reset the Arduino Uno in case of abnormal conditions or system errors. 

4. Actuators 

These components respond to system commands based on the sensor data, providing alerts and controlling the phototherapy machine: 

Buzzer (Audible Alert): Emits a sound when an abnormal condition is detected, alerting the user to take action. 

Green LED (Normal Condition): Indicates that the system is operating under normal, safe conditions. 

Red LED (Abnormal Condition): Signals that an abnormal condition has occurred, such as exceeding temperature thresholds or a malfunction. 

Relay (Controls Phototherapy Machine): This relay is responsible for turning the phototherapy machine on or off based on the system’s readings and conditions. 

5. Output Devices 

These provide real-time monitoring and feedback, both locally and remotely: 

LCD Display (Real-Time Data): Displays key data such as temperature, humidity, and system status in real-time, giving immediate feedback to the user. 

IoT Cloud (Remote Monitoring): Sends data to the cloud for remote monitoring. It allows users to track system performance and receive alerts on their mobile devices or computers. 

6. Alerts and Notifications 

IoT App and Gmail Notifications: The system is configured to send alerts through an IoT app or email (via Gmail) when abnormal conditions are detected, ensuring timely remote intervention or monitoring. 

7. Power Supply 

9V Power Adapter: Provides the necessary power to the Arduino Uno and the connected devices. 

Description of the flowchart Diagram

The system begins with the initialization of key sensors, including an LDR for measuring light irradiance and a DHT22 sensor for monitoring temperature and humidity. Once initialized, the system actively monitors these parameters to ensure they remain within safe operating limits.

 Data from these sensors is displayed locally and transmitted to an IoT platform for remote monitoring and analysis. The system then checks if the environmental conditions are within acceptable thresholds. If the conditions are normal, the system continues monitoring. However, if any parameters exceed the predefined limits, the system will execute a series of protective measures

1. A buzzer is activated, along with a red LED, to alert on-site personnel.
2. The phototherapy machine is automatically shut down to prevent further risks.
3. A notification is sent to caregivers via an IoT app and email to ensure they are promptly informed.

The system then enters a standby state, awaiting a caregiver's reset. This reset mechanism is critical, as it allows for a thorough check of any slight changes that trigger an abnormal condition. If these changes are deemed non-threatening, the system can be reset manually to resume normal operation. Without the reset, the system would return to normal monitoring as if nothing happened, ensuring that minor fluctuations are carefully considered before proceeding.

Caregivers can reset the system either through the phototherapy protective device or via the IoT platform. Once reset, the system resumes normal monitoring. If no reset occurs, the system remains in shutdown mode but continues to monitor the environment, ensuring ongoing protection even during downtime. This design prioritizes safety by integrating real-time monitoring, automated response mechanisms, and remote alert systems, ensuring that any potential issues are addressed swiftly to prevent harm and maintain optimal operating conditions.

Description of the CircuitDiagram

Digital Humidity and Temperature ( DHT22) Sensor:

1. VCC to 5V on Arduino.
2. GND to GND on Arduino.
3. Data pin to a digital input pin on Arduino (D3).

 Light Sensor:

1. VCC to 5V on Arduino.
2. GND to GND on Arduino.
3. Output pin to an analog input pin on Arduino ( A1).

16x2 LCD Display:

1. VCC to 5V on Arduino.
2. GND to GND on Arduino.
3. SDA to A4 on Arduino (I2C communication).
4. SCL to A5 on Arduino (I2C communication).

 Reset Button:

1. One terminal to GND.
2. The other terminal to a digital input pin on Arduino (, D7).

 Buzzer:

1. Positive terminal to a digital output pin on Arduino (D8) via a switch.
2. Negative terminal to GND.

 Red LED (Abnormal Condition):

1. Positive terminal (anode) to a digital output pin on Arduino (D11)
2. Negative terminal (cathode) to GND.

 LED (Normal Condition):

1. Positive terminal (anode) to a digital output pin on Arduino ( D12) via a current-limiting resistor.
2. Negative terminal (cathode) to GND.

 Relay Module:

1. VCC to 5V on Arduino.
2. GND to GND on Arduino.
3. IN pin to a digital output pin on Arduino (D9) for control.
4. NC (Normally Closed) and COM pins connected to the power socket for the phototherapy machine.

 AC Power Source:

1. AC live and neutral connected to the relay's COM and NC pins.
2. The phototherapy machine is plugged into the relay-controlled socket.

 9V adaptor:

1. Positive terminal to the power input of the Arduino.
2. Negative terminal to GND.

This wiring setup ensures that all components are properly connected to the Arduino for safe and efficient control of the phototherapy machine.

The assembly process began by carefully placing all components onto the zero PCB for a compact and organized layout. The DHT22 sensor and the LDR were strategically positioned to ensure optimal exposure for accurate temperature, humidity, and light measurements. Connections were made linking each sensor and component to the Arduino Uno R4 as per the circuit diagram.

The LEDs, buzzer, and reset button were placed securely to allow easy access for testing and operation. The LCD display, equipped with an I2C module, was positioned for clear visibility of real-time data. Proper soldering was carried out to ensure stable connections, and the entire assembly was reinforced with heat shrink tubing and electrical tape for durability and safety.

In this system, the relay module is configured to control the AC power flow from the plug to the socket, which is where the phototherapy machine is connected. Here’s how the mechanism works based on the setup:

AC Power Supply Connection:

1. The plug is inserted into the AC source, providing power to the system. This same plug powers the 9V charger, which supplies energy to the Arduino Uno R4.

Relay Integration with Socket and Plug:

1. The relay acts as a switch for the power supply between the plug and the socket. The socket is dedicated to powering the phototherapy machine. When the relay is activated, it either allows or interrupts the power flow to the socket, thereby controlling the phototherapy machine's operation.

Control via Sensors:

1. The Arduino Uno R4 continuously monitors the DHT22 sensor for temperature and the LDR for light intensity. If the temperature, irradiance, and humidity exceed the set threshold by a caregiver, the Arduino sends a signal to the relay to cut off the power to the socket, effectively shutting down the phototherapy machine.

Powering the Arduino:

1. The 9V charger connected to the plug ensures that the Arduino remains powered, enabling it to operate continuously and manage the relay based on real-time sensor readings.

Reset Functionality:

1. A reset button on the Arduino or via the IoT interface allows the system to be manually reset, restoring the relay to its default state and re-enabling the socket for phototherapy machine operation.

This design ensures that the phototherapy machine is controlled safely and effectively, with the relay acting as a key intermediary between the AC source and the machine. The circuit diagram provides a detailed guide to replicate this setup.

The next phase of the project involved integrating IoT functionality to enable remote monitoring, notifications, and threshold customization. Here's how it was implemented:

Creating an IoT Account:

1. An account was created on the Arduino IoT Cloud platform using Gmail credentials. This account serves as the central hub for managing the IoT-enabled aspects of the project.

Adding the IoT Device:

1. The Arduino Uno R4 was added as an IoT device in the Arduino IoT Cloud. This included registering the device, configuring its unique Thing properties, and connecting it to the platform.

Setting Up the Dashboard:

1. A custom dashboard was developed to provide comprehensive control and monitoring capabilities. It includes:
2. Widgets to monitor temperature (°C), humidity (%), and light intensity (LDR values) in real time.
3. Interactive widgets that allow caregivers to set their desired thresholds for temperature, humidity, and light irradiance. These thresholds define the conditions under which the system should take action.
4. Buttons for manually resetting the system remotely via the IoT interface.

Configuring Notifications with Triggers:

1. Notifications were programmed to alert caregivers under critical conditions:
2. If the temperature, humidity, or light irradiance exceeds the caregiver-defined thresholds, an email notification is sent immediately via Gmail integration.
3. This ensures that caregivers are informed promptly of abnormal conditions that may require intervention.

By allowing caregivers to set custom thresholds through the IoT dashboard, the system becomes more adaptable and user-centric, offering enhanced flexibility for different phototherapy setups.

The project required two separate pieces of code to run seamlessly: the ThingsProperty code and the Main code.

ThingsProperty Code:

1. This code was automatically generated by the Arduino IoT Cloud platform. It defines the IoT properties such as temperature, humidity, light irradiance, and device status, which are essential for cloud integration. The ThingsProperty code handles communication between the Arduino device and the IoT Cloud.

Main Code:

1. While a portion of the main code, especially for initializing components, was generated by the Arduino IoT Cloud, the core logic for controlling the device was written by us.
2. The main code implements:
3. Reading data from the sensors (DHT22 for temperature and humidity, and the LDR for light intensity).
4. The logic for shutting down the phototherapy machine when thresholds for temperature or irradiance are exceeded.
5. Controlling the relay to act as a power switch for the phototherapy machine.
6. Buzzer alerts for abnormal conditions.
7. LCD updates for real-time monitoring of temperature, humidity, and light intensity.
8. Button and IoT-based reset functionalities.

Uploading the Code:

1. After uploading, the system was tested to ensure that the IoT connectivity, sensor readings, and control mechanisms worked as expected.

This phase emphasized blending automatically generated code with custom logic to create a reliable and functional system tailored to the needs of the phototherapy protective device.

Data Logging and Its Role in Phototherapy: Data logging is the process of collecting and storing data over time for analysis and review. It involves the continuous recording of data from sensors and devices, allowing for real-time monitoring and historical analysis. In the context of phototherapy, data logging can play a crucial role in improving treatment effectiveness and safety.

Key Benefits of Data Logging

Continuous Monitoring: Data logging enables the constant recording of essential parameters such as light irradiance, temperature, and humidity. This ensures that the phototherapy environment is consistently monitored to provide optimal treatment conditions.

Historical Data for Analysis: By storing historical data, healthcare providers can review treatment sessions, track trends, and analyze the baby's response to therapy. This helps in understanding patterns, making adjustments, and improving future treatments based on past data.

Anomaly Detection: Data logging can help identify anomalies or irregularities in treatment conditions. For example, if the light irradiance drops below a certain threshold, the system can trigger alerts, preventing underexposure, which could delay treatment efficacy.

Improved Decision-Making: Logged data provides evidence-based insights for caregivers to make informed decisions. This can include adjustments to treatment duration, intensity of light, or even changes in positioning to ensure the baby receives the most effective phototherapy.

Compliance and Reporting: In medical settings, keeping records of treatment is essential for compliance with health regulations. Data logging ensures that every detail of the phototherapy process is recorded, providing clear documentation for audits or reviews.

How This Project Uses Data Logging to Improve Phototherapy:

Real-Time Adjustments: The smart protective device continuously logs data from sensors monitoring light intensity, temperature, and humidity. If any of these parameters deviate from the preset thresholds, the system can automatically adjust the treatment, ensuring that the baby receives consistent and effective phototherapy.

Post-Treatment Analysis: The recorded data can be used for post-treatment analysis, allowing healthcare professionals to review how the infant responded to different conditions during therapy. This helps in tailoring future treatments to individual needs, improving personalized care.

Trend Analysis: Over time, the device’s logged data can reveal trends in how environmental conditions affect treatment outcomes. For instance, it can show whether higher or lower temperatures during phototherapy lead to better results, informing potential changes in clinical practice.

Alerts for Abnormal Conditions: The logged data can be used to set up real-time alerts for abnormal conditions. If the device logs a dangerous increase in temperature or a drop in irradiance levels, it can immediately alert the caregiver and shut down the system to prevent harm to the infant.

Data-Driven Improvements: As more data is logged and analyzed, the phototherapy system can be continuously improved. The insights gained from the data can guide enhancements in device functionality, making phototherapy safer and more efficient over time.

In our 5-hour experiment, we used the smart phototherapy device to simulate a typical phototherapy session for neonatal jaundice. The goal was to see how well the device could monitor key parameters—temperature, humidity, and irradiance—and how it would respond when these parameters reached critical levels. 

1. Temperature Behavior 

The experiment commenced at 00:30 with an initial temperature of 30°C. As the phototherapy progressed, the temperature increased steadily, reaching 35°C by 01:30, 37°C by 02:30, and 38°C by 03:30. By 04:30, the temperature peaked at 42°C, surpassing the 40°C safety threshold, which triggered the system's automatic shutdown to prevent overheating. Following the shutdown, the temperature gradually decreased, reaching 32°C by 05:00, allowing the device to resume normal operation.

2. Humidity Trends 

Humidity levels began at 65% at 00:30 and gradually decreased as the temperature increased. By 01:30, humidity had dropped to 60%, further declining to 53% by 03:30. It reached its lowest point at 50% by 04:30, just before the system shutdown. After the system restarted at 05:00, the humidity rose to 63%, indicating the system had re-stabilized post-shutdown. 

3. Irradiance Progression 

Irradiance began at 53% at 00:30 and steadily increased throughout the phototherapy session, reaching 65% by 02:30 and 75% by 03:30, approaching the 85% safety threshold. By 04:30, it peaked at 90%, surpassing the threshold and contributing to the system's shutdown. After the reset at 05:00, irradiance dropped back to 70%, ensuring safe conditions for the infant. 

4. System Shutdown and Recovery 

The critical moment occurred at 04:30 when both the temperature (42°C) and irradiance (90%) surpassed their respective thresholds, prompting the device’s automatic shutdown to prevent overheating and excessive light exposure. Following a brief reset, the system restarted at 05:00, with all parameters returning to safe levels: temperature at 32°C, humidity at 63%, and irradiance at 70%. This demonstrated the device's effective real-time response, ensuring a safe environment for the infant. 

Time vs Temperature Graph 

The graph illustrates the temperature progression over time, beginning at 30°C at 00:30 with a steady rise through the early hours. By 04:30, the temperature reaches its peak at 42°C, the highest point on the graph. Following this peak, there is a sharp decline, with the temperature dropping to 32°C by 05:00. This sudden decrease likely corresponds to an external factor or a system reset, as suggested by the system shutdown mentioned in the data. The peak indicates that the temperature exceeded a critical threshold, triggering the system's intervention. 

  Time vs Humidity graph 

The humidity trend graph shows a gradual decline over time, starting at 65% at 00:30 and steadily dropping to around 50% by 04:30. Notably, there is a slight recovery in humidity by 05:00, rising back to 63%. This rebound may be linked to changes in environmental conditions or the system restarting after a shutdown, as referenced in the data. The steady decrease in humidity, followed by the recovery, suggests the system's ability to rebalance itself after intervention. 

Time vs Irradiance Graph 

The irradiance plot demonstrates a consistent rise over time, beginning at 53% at 00:30 and steadily increasing until it peaks at 90% by 04:30. This peak aligns with the highest temperature and the system shutdown, indicating that both temperature and irradiance reached critical levels. Following the system reset, irradiance dropped back down to 70% by 05:00. The steady increase in irradiance before the shutdown suggests that the system was exposed to escalating light or energy until it exceeded its threshold. 

General Observation

  All three graphs temperature, humidity, and irradiance demonstrate similar patterns of gradual change throughout the experiment, culminating in significant shifts at 04:30, when the system likely exceeded its predefined safety thresholds. At this point, the temperature peaked at 42°C and irradiance reached 90%, resulting in an automatic shutdown of the system to protect the infant from unsafe treatment conditions. The sharp changes in these variables after the shutdown underscore the system's ability to respond to out-of-range values and restore balance.

After the system reset, the recorded values for temperature, humidity, and irradiance began stabilizing by 05:00, demonstrating the system's effectiveness in restoring safe phototherapy conditions. These trends highlight the importance of real-time monitoring and automatic interventions in maintaining optimal treatment conditions and protecting vulnerable newborns from potential harm during phototherapy.

I always say "In the realm of invention, the deepest sorrow is to carry a brilliant idea but bear the weight of loneliness in the pursuit of making those dreams come true. This is why many ideas are yet to be born due to a lack of support."

This quote reflects the journey of this project—a collaborative effort to bring a meaningful solution to life despite challenges. While the project currently focuses on enhancing phototherapy safety, its principles can be extended to other medical technologies like MRI and CT scans for better health care.

Looking ahead, we envision leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to advance this project further. Stay tuned for future updates as we continue to innovate and push boundaries.

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