ThermoFLo

Prototype Photos

Starting with an eight-week fellowship in Kampala, Uganda, I am continuing to work on developing ThermoFlo, a low-cost in-line intravenous (IV) fluid warmer designed to combat the high rates of perioperative hypothermia by ensuring that IV fluids are optimally warmed before administration to patients. I work with an exceptional team comprising fellow Duke students Jennifer An and Michelle Chen and Makerere University students Byamugisha Joan and Mulonde Nickson.

Electronics

Thermoflo features a user-friendly keypad and an intuitive LCD interface, allowing healthcare providers to effortlessly set the desired temperature for IV fluids. The device efficiently warms the fluid in the IV tubing to the specified temperature, ensuring patient comfort and safety. Rigorous testing confirmed that Thermoflo precisely delivers fluid temperatures within ±1°C of set points between 35°C and 41°C.

Recent Data

In this project, I played a key role in electronic development, testing, and data analysis. I transitioned the heating control from digital to PWM for improved accuracy, designed PCB schematics, and miniaturized the circuit for a more compact form factor. Additionally, I upgraded the casing from laser-cut materials to a standardized plastic electronic enclosure, ensuring better durability and reproducibility. I also wrote software to integrate these changes seamlessly and conducted extensive testing to correlate device output, heating pad temperature, and water temperature, ultimately validating the updated design.