Design and Implementation of Low Cost Smart Syringe Pump for Telemedicine and Healthcare

Abstract

Delivery of fluids such as nutrients and medications into a patient’s body in a controlled environment is one of the essential prerequisites of a treatment that requires precise flow control. Advancements in wireless technologies and internet of things (IoT) facilitates the use of medical devices wirelessly so that they can be accessed over a long distance for tele-monitoring and telemedicine. In this work, a frame work of a low-cost medical syringe pump is designed to provide better health care in the rural area. A dc motor driven syringe pump is designed using microcontroller board with necessary driver circuitry. Armature voltage of the DC motor is varied to generate different flow rates. To convert rotary motion of the motor into linear motion, lead screw mechanism is employed. Almost all parts of this device are easily available to local market. There is provision for multiple flow rate control, safety features and wireless control of the device. GSM module is used to show the wireless operation of the device. Experimental findings show that the error of flow rate is within ± 5% of the desired flow rate. The objective of this research work is to design a low cost, portable, smart syringe infusion pump to improve quality of service in the healthcare sector of developing countries.