Building a Real-Time IoT Hospital IV Monitor with ESP32 and Blynk
This technical article details the development of LifeFlow, an Internet of Things (IoT) device designed to automate the monitoring of intravenous (IV) fluid levels in hospital settings. Created by Synapse Lab, the project addresses a critical safety gap where nurses currently rely on visual checks, which can lead to dangerous complications like blood backflow or air embolisms if bags run dry. The system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller, an HX711 amplifier, and a load cell to continuously track IV fluid volume by weight. The author provides a comprehensive breakdown of the hardware architecture and the C++ threshold logic employed to detect low fluid levels. Furthermore, the article explains how data is routed to a real-time Blynk dashboard, ensuring medical staff receive instant alerts when intervention is required. This innovation aims to enhance patient safety and reduce the manual workload for healthcare professionals by providing a precise, automated monitoring solution. The project serves as a practical example of applying embedded systems and cloud connectivity to solve real-world medical challenges, offering insights for developers interested in health-tech innovations.
Wire timeline
Building a Real-Time IoT Hospital IV Monitor with ESP32 and Blynk
This technical article details the development of LifeFlow, an Internet of Things (IoT) device designed to automate the monitoring of intravenous (IV) fluid levels in hospital settings. Created by Synapse Lab, the project addresses a critical safety gap where nurses currently rely on visual checks, which can lead to dangerous complications like blood backflow or air embolisms if bags run dry. The system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller, an HX711 amplifier, and a load cell to continuously track IV fluid volume by weight. The author provides a comprehensive breakdown of the hardware architecture and the C++ threshold logic employed to detect low fluid levels. Furthermore, the article explains how data is routed to a real-time Blynk dashboard, ensuring medical staff receive instant alerts when intervention is required. This innovation aims to enhance patient safety and reduce the manual workload for healthcare professionals by providing a precise, automated monitoring solution. The project serves as a practical example of applying embedded systems and cloud connectivity to solve real-world medical challenges, offering insights for developers interested in health-tech innovations.
DEV Community