In low to middle-income countries (LMIC) low birth weight is six times more likely to occur. This can affect the ability for infants to suck and swallow, creating the need for automated feeding devices. The goal of this project is to design an affordable automated feeding system, costing under 100 USD, as LMICs cannot afford expensive medical devices. Four design concepts were brainstormed, and the final design chosen was feeding via gravity due to its simplicity, low-power operation, and affordability. The device stops liquid flow once the selected volume is reached, monitors flow rate and volume within a 2% error of desired volume at 0.5 ± 0.1 mL/min flow rates. The device was taken to Ghana for clinician feedback, providing recommendations for present and future work.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Slaney, Meghan
• Nichols, Alexis
• Son, Chris
• Puttagunta, Shreya
• Borges, Hannah

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 65306
• E-project-042822-124403

Keyword

• Feeding Device
• Premature
• Low to Middle Income Countries

Advisor

• Albrecht, Dirk
• Mensah, Solomon

Year

• 2022

Date created

• 2022-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright