Design of an Apnea Monitoring Device for Preterm Babies

Abstract Apnea, a medical condition characterized by the cessation of breath for more than 15–20 seconds, is a significant health concern affecting an estimated 936 million people globally, with a more significant number being children. In preterm babies, sleep apnea can be a more prevalent issue due to their underdeveloped airways and breathing mechanisms. This condition leaves preterm infants susceptible to complications such as cognitive impairment and cerebral palsy. In Ghana, there is a lack of stand-alone apnea monitoring devices. Given that between 1–5% of children are born with obstructive sleep apnea, the need for such devices is essential. In response to this need, we applied frugal engineering principles to design a user-friendly prototype of an apnea monitor for early detection. The design comprises four central units: a power supply unit, a signal acquisition unit, a processing unit, and a display unit. The system obtains breathing signals from the thoracic region using respiratory and pressure sensors that measure and record the thoracic effort during breathing. These signals are then amplified by an operational amplifier (LM324) and processed by an ATMEGA328p microcontroller programmed using the Arduino IDE. The output is subsequently displayed on a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen. The device was tested on an adult male with over 90% accuracy in detecting apnea. The outcome indicated the potential of the device to contribute to the early detection and management of apnea, thereby mitigating its associated health risks.