Development and performance evaluation of a low-cost, dual-mode suction device for emergency medical care
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering and Technology Research, 2026, 11(01), 001–016.
Article DOI: 10.53294/ijfetr.2026.11.1.0018
Publication history:
Received on 28 May 2026; revised on 04 July 2026; accepted on 06 July 2026
Abstract:
There is a persistent lack of reliable suction capability for emergency airway management in rural Nigerian health facilities, where unstable grid power, high equipment costs and limited maintenance capacity frequently render conventional electric suction units unavailable or non‑functional. Against this backdrop, a dual‑mode medical suction device was developed from locally sourced materials in line with ISO 10079-1 standard. The system integrates a solar‑powered electric mode with a manual backup mode in a single, portable unit. A 10 W, 12 V photovoltaic panel charges a 12.6 V, 5 Ah lithium‑ion battery pack that supplies a 12 V DC diaphragm pump. An ESP32 microcontroller provides closed‑loop electronic pressure control via pulse‑width modulation, with real‑time pressure feedback from an MPX5100DP differential pressure sensor displayed on an OLED screen. The manual mode employs a hand‑operated pump connected to the same 2 L collection canister through a T‑valve, enabling seamless switching between power modes without disconnecting the patient circuit. All components are housed wooden box of sides 27 cm each for structural rigidity, low cost and ease of local fabrication. The total fabrication cost was estimated at N141,860, a 40–70% reduction in the price of commercial electric suction units.
Keywords:
Dual-mode operation; Emergency medical equipment; Medical suction device; Rural healthcare; Solar powered medical equipment.
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0