Desarrollo de un prototipo modular de monitorización vital neonatal implementando tecnologías de bajo consumo y portabilidad para evacuaciones de emergencia

Abstract

Neonatal vital signs monitoring in emergency contexts and limited-resource settings faces particular challenges due to the high costs of commercial equipment and portability limitations. This complexity is something that conventional solutions fail to resolve in an accessible manner. This thesis work focuses on the development of a functional prototype of a portable neonatal monitoring system based on low-cost technologies, with the objective of demonstrating the technical viability of accessible biomedical devices without compromising clinical precision. The development process was carried out through ten defined phases, integrating the disciplines of electronic engineering, digital signal processing, embedded systems design, and experimental technical validation. The process consisted of leveraging the capabilities of the RP2040 microcontroller and specialized sensors (MAX30102, DHT11, HX711) to perform continuous measurements of heart rate, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and body weight, validating precision through comparison with certified reference equipment. As a result, a functional and technically validated prototype was generated, whose value not only lies in the final design, but also in the documented methodology. This demonstrated consistent precision in heart rate measurement, exceeded the established requirements in terms of energy autonomy, presented response times lower than the expected values, and maintained operational stability during 48 hours of continuous operation. In other words, this project offers a documented development of a portable neonatal monitoring system establishing a replicable methodological base that demonstrates the technical viability of low-cost biomedical solutions, positioning open-source technologies and accessible components as viable alternatives to improve access to medical equipment in limited-resource contexts.