FlowMate: Real-Time Drip Monitoring and Automatic Refill System

Abstract

Efficient and accurate fluid management is essential in clinical settings, particularly for intravenous (IV) saline administration. Flow Mate is a real-time monitoring and automatic refill system designed to improve safety and reliability in saline drip systems. The system uses sensors to monitor the flow rate, fluid level, and timing of saline delivery, ensuring uninterrupted infusion and preventing complications from fluid depletion or over-infusion. With integrated microcontrollers and alert mechanisms, Flow Mate automates the refill process and notifies healthcare providers of irregularities. This solution minimizes manual monitoring, enhances patient safety, and streamlines hospital workflows through smart, responsive fluid control. In clinical environments, intravenous (IV) fluid administration plays a vital role in patient care and requires continuous supervision to ensure safety and accuracy. Manual monitoring, however, is prone to errors such as delayed refills, backflow of blood, or air entering the IV line. To address these issues, a sensor-based automated system is developed to monitor the flow of IV fluid and refill it automatically when the level drops. The setup involves real-time data collection through sensors and actuators, which are controlled by a microcontroller to maintain consistent fluid delivery. Additionally, the system features an alert mechanism that notifies healthcare staff in case of abnormal conditions. This solution reduces human workload, minimizes risk, and ensures reliable IV therapy.