KNUST final-year students develop device for newborn jaundice

Two final-year students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have developed an innovative, low-cost phototherapy device to treat neonatal jaundice in newborns, offering a potential lifeline to resource-constrained health facilities across Ghana and beyond.

Ebenezer Sarpong and Beatrix Afua Korang Asiamah, both from the Department of Computer Engineering, designed the device to emit safe blue light that helps break down excess bilirubin in the blood—a key cause of jaundice in infants. Their work addresses a pressing health challenge with a cost-effective solution that could expand access to life-saving treatment.Neonatal jaundice is a common condition characterised by yellowing of the skin and eyes, caused by high levels of bilirubin in a newborn’s blood. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including brain damage or death. While phototherapy is the standard treatment, existing devices are often expensive and inaccessible to many hospitals, particularly in low-income or rural settings.

Speaking about the motivation behind the project, the students explained that they aimed to develop an effective device that hospitals could afford. Their design took into consideration key clinical needs, including the correct type of blue light, efficient delivery to the baby’s skin, and controls to monitor and regulate the device’s operation.

The result is a working prototype that emits the required blue light intensity, incorporates user-friendly controls, and significantly reduces cost when compared to conventional commercial models. The prototype meets the basic therapeutic requirements for standard phototherapy and is considered safe for clinical use, pending further validation.

Their academic supervisor, Dr. Prince Odame, provided mentorship and oversight throughout the design and testing stages. He praised the students’ efforts, noting that their work exemplifies how engineering education at KNUST continues to yield practical solutions to real-world problems.“This is just one of many examples of how student innovation can directly impact public health,” Dr. Odame said. “With proper support and regulatory clearance, this device could be deployed in many of our health facilities, where there is an urgent need for affordable medical technology.”

Health experts have long warned that the lack of accessible phototherapy devices is a significant barrier to effective neonatal care in Ghana. Many hospitals are forced to improvise or refer jaundiced infants to distant facilities, risking treatment delays that can prove fatal.

The students’ device, completed as part of their final-year project, has already generated interest from clinicians and medical technologists. It stands as a strong example of how university research, when aligned with national health priorities, can offer cost-effective innovations with the potential to save lives.The next steps for the project include further testing, clinical trials, and pursuing regulatory approval from the Ghana Health Service and the Food and Drugs Authority. Should the prototype pass these hurdles, the device could soon become a critical tool in newborn care across the country.

Source: KNUST.edu.gh