Fuzzy control of oxygen gas content for premature labor infants oxygen therapy

Abstract

© 2016 IEEE. Premature labor infants, born before the 37th week of gestation, may require oxygen therapy as an integral part of treatment and respiratory support. Immature lungs can cause common complications in these infants such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). To treat such complication, oxygen must be given to these babies carefully. Too much or too long of oxygen exposure to these infants can cause oxygen intoxication which can result in permanent blindness caused by overgrowth of new blood vessels in the eye so called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Too less or too short of oxygen exposure would cause hypoxia which can result in death of the babies. To maintain suitable level of oxygen, medical doctor will order real-time measurement of oxygen saturation (SpO2) and prescribe a dose of oxygen content measured in a percentage of oxygen gas content in pure air so called Fractional inspired Oxygen (FiO2). Nurses will be responsible for adjusting FiO2 according to current SpO2. Due to shortage of nurses, an adjustment can only be done in every 15-30 minutes. This paper presents a fuzzy control system that can automatically compute and adjust FiO2 according to a current SpO2 of the babies.