DIPPER Lab is committed to addressing critical medical gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa through locally engineered, high-tech solutions. By focusing on neonatal and pediatric care, areas where the risk of mortality and long-term disability is highest, our researchers are transforming traditional, high-risk manual procedures into safe, automated, and data-driven interventions. These projects, ranging from AI-powered diagnostic apps and smart wearable monitors to advanced biomedical hardware, are specifically designed to operate in low-resource settings with unreliable power and limited specialist access. We aim to ensure that every child, regardless of their geographic or economic background, has access to the precise, life-saving technology they deserve.

1. ANET

ANET (Automated Neonatal Exchange Transfusion) is a pioneering biomedical solution developed by the DIPPER Lab at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to combat the high rates of neonatal jaundice and brain damage in Sub-Saharan Africa. Traditionally, treating severe jaundice requires a manual "push-pull" blood transfusion process that is slow, prone to human error, and carries high complication risks; ANET replaces this with a locally-engineered, automated system. By utilizing precision robotics, smart sensors to detect air bubbles, and IoT integration for remote monitoring, the device ensures consistent flow rates and enhanced safety for newborns. Supported by the British Council, ANET represents a critical advancement in African healthcare, moving from risky manual procedures to a standardized, high-tech intervention that significantly improves survival rates and protects infants from irreversible neurological harm.

 

2. NeoWax

NewWax is an innovative, electricity-independent neonatal incubator designed to provide life-saving warmth to premature infants in low-resource and remote settings. Addressing the critical challenge of neonatal hypothermia in areas with unreliable power, the device utilizes a specialized beeswax-based Phase Change Material (PCM) to maintain a stable, life-saving temperature of 37°C for over six hours. This portable and affordable solution allows rural clinics to provide consistent thermal care and facilitates safe infant transport without the need for expensive industrial equipment or constant electricity. By leveraging locally sourced, biodegradable materials and simple heating methods like solar or hot water, Incubeetor offers a sustainable and accessible alternative to traditional incubators, significantly increasing the survival odds for newborns across the developing world.

 

3. LUMINOSA

Luminosa is a medical-grade phototherapy system that provides highly effective treatment for neonatal jaundice in low-resource settings. Unlike traditional single-source overhead lamps that often leave "blind spots" on an infant's skin, Luminosa features a sophisticated four-sided illumination design that provides 360-degree body coverage, significantly accelerating the breakdown of bilirubin and shortening hospital stays. The device is built with high-intensity blue LEDs and microcontroller logic that actively monitors temperature and power levels, ensuring clinical safety while remaining energy-efficient enough for solar or battery operation. By offering a low-cost, portable, and durable alternative to expensive hospital-grade units, Luminosa aims to bridge the global healthcare gap and prevent permanent brain damage (kernicterus) in newborns across underserved regions.

 

4. EZYTHERM

Ezytherm is an intuitive, smart temperature monitoring system developed to address the critical gap in neonatal care within low-resource environments, where delayed detection of hypothermia or infection can be fatal. Designed specifically for caregivers and mothers, the device replaces traditional numerical thermometers with an easy-to-interpret, color-coded OLED display and localized audio alerts in Ghanaian languages, ensuring that life-threatening temperature spikes or drops are understood instantly regardless of technical training. To ensure reliability in off-grid regions, Ezytherm features a solar-rechargeable battery and clinical-grade precision sensors. By bridging the interpretation gap and providing 24/7 monitoring, this innovation empowers families to act within the critical 48-hour detection window, significantly reducing neonatal mortality and anxiety for the most vulnerable infants.

 

5. BROSELOW

Digital Broselow is an AI-powered pediatric measurement system designed to provide rapid, non-contact height and weight estimation for children in emergency medical situations. The tool uses an advanced image-processing model to predict a child's physical dimensions from a simple photograph, eliminating the need for traditional scales or measuring tapes which can be impractical in critical care. Unlike standard tools developed using Western data, Digital Broselow is specifically trained on Ghanaian pediatric anthropometrics to ensure localized accuracy and reduce the risk of life-threatening medication dosing errors. By integrating features like automated privacy blurring and interpretable AI visualizations, the system provides healthcare workers with a fast, safe, and culturally relevant decision-support tool that prioritizes patient safety when every second counts.

 

6. BILLIBUDDY

BiliBuddy is an AI-powered mobile application that facilitates the early and accurate screening of neonatal jaundice. Designed for use by both healthcare workers and parents in low-resource settings, the tool enables non-invasive bilirubin estimation by analyzing photos of a newborn's skin taken via a smartphone. By utilizing advanced image processing to identify specific skin patches and providing consistent results across all skin tones, BiliBuddy bridges the gap between clinical expertise and home-based monitoring. The project’s mission is to empower rural communities with an affordable diagnostic solution, ensuring that severe jaundice is detected in time to prevent life-long neurological complications and improve overall neonatal survival rates.

 

7. NEOBREATH

NeoBreath Guard is an integrated, non-invasive monitoring ecosystem that provides real-time protection against infant apnea and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Specifically designed for low-to-middle-income regions where medical-grade home monitors are often unaffordable, the system combines a wearable abdominal belt with capacitive sensors and a specialized foot strap (NeoBreath Step) to track breathing patterns, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels (SpO2). Data is transmitted wirelessly to a central hub and a user-friendly mobile application, which utilizes intelligent algorithms to filter out motion noise and trigger instantaneous alerts for caregivers the moment a respiratory anomaly is detected. By offering a low-power, accessible alternative to expensive clinical equipment, NeoBreath Guard aims to reduce neonatal mortality and provide parents with peace of mind through continuous, reliable health surveillance.