Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller

Oladunjoye John Abiodun; Okwori Anthony Okpe; Athony Obogo Otiko; Adogwu Samuel Junior

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

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| Peer-Reviewed

Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller

Oladunjoye John Abiodun

, Okwori Anthony Okpe^*

, Athony Obogo Otiko

, Adogwu Samuel Junior

Published in International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 23 July 2025 Accepted: 1 September 2025 Published: 30 October 2025

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Abstract

The application of internet of things (IoT) in critical sectors of human endeavours has extended greatly to healthcare services where IoT technologies has been used to monitor several patient’s vital signs such as heartbeat, glucose level, blood pressure among others and provide timely report for immediate attention to enhance patient’s outcomes. In Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers, the ratio of nurses to patients is very low and most patient needs intravenous (IV) therapy as there are always several critical cases to handle hence a need for automated intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers. Intravenous therapy is a critical component of medical care, yet most Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers rely on traditional monitoring methods that are prone to human error that could compromise patient safety. This paper aims at implementing an internet of things (IoT) based IV fluid level monitoring and alert system in Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers. The system was developed using ESP32 microcontroller, a 5kg load cell with HX711 amplifier, and a multi-channel alert mechanism (LEDs, buzzer, and 16x2 I2C liquid-crystal display (LCD), coupled with cloud connectivity via ThingSpeak and notification services (Mailjet and Twilio). It continuously tracks IV fluid levels, converting weight data into volume measurements, and triggers real-time alerts at warning (50%) and critical (15%) thresholds. The system implemented several Security features, including Transport Layer Security. (TLS) encryption and multi-tier authentication to ensure data integrity. The Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was used as the programming environment due to its cross-platform compatibility, simplicity, and robust support for ESP32 development. Its intuitive interface accelerated prototyping, enabling rapid deployment of test code for sensor calibration. It has an extensive community-driven documentation and troubleshooting resources, which simplified resolving hardware-specific challenges, such as I2C address conflicts between the HX711 and LCD. Additionally, the IDE’s serial plotter tool proved invaluable for visualizing real-time weight data during load cell calibration, ensuring the accuracy of the weight-to-volume conversion algorithm. The system was tested using use case and it satisfied all test conditions making it very suitable for intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers.

Published in	International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
Page(s)	46-55
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Internet of Things, Healthcare, Intravenous Fluid, ESP32 Microcontroller, ThingSpeak

References

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[5]	Hassan, M. A., Asif, M., & Tariq, M (2023). Optimizing IV fluid administration through IoT-based monitoring systems. Computers in Biology and Medicine, available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.104839 , accessed on 10^th June, 2025.
[6]	Adaeze O. (2023). Nigeria’s health workforce crisis and future of healthcare delivery, available at https://dailytrust.com/nigerias-health-workforce-crisis-and-future-of-healthcare-delivery/# , accessed on 23 July, 2015.
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[16]	Singh, R., & Patel, K. (2021). IoT-enabled smart infusion systems: A review. Health Informatics Journal, 27(1), 1-15.
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[18]	Wilson, J., & Graham, T. (2021). Wearable healthcare devices with secure Bluetooth communication: A review. Sensors, 21(4), available at https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041234 accessed on 2^nd July, 2025.
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APA Style

Abiodun, O. J., Okpe, O. A., Otiko, A. O., Junior, A. S. (2025). Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller. International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks, 13(2), 46-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

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ACS Style

Abiodun, O. J.; Okpe, O. A.; Otiko, A. O.; Junior, A. S. Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller. Int. J. Sens. Sens. Netw. 2025, 13(2), 46-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Abiodun OJ, Okpe OA, Otiko AO, Junior AS. Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller. Int J Sens Sens Netw. 2025;13(2):46-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13,
  author = {Oladunjoye John Abiodun and Okwori Anthony Okpe and Athony Obogo Otiko and Adogwu Samuel Junior},
  title = {Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller
},
  journal = {International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {46-55},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijssn.20251302.13},
  abstract = {The application of internet of things (IoT) in critical sectors of human endeavours has extended greatly to healthcare services where IoT technologies has been used to monitor several patient’s vital signs such as heartbeat, glucose level, blood pressure among others and provide timely report for immediate attention to enhance patient’s outcomes. In Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers, the ratio of nurses to patients is very low and most patient needs intravenous (IV) therapy as there are always several critical cases to handle hence a need for automated intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers. Intravenous therapy is a critical component of medical care, yet most Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers rely on traditional monitoring methods that are prone to human error that could compromise patient safety. This paper aims at implementing an internet of things (IoT) based IV fluid level monitoring and alert system in Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers. The system was developed using ESP32 microcontroller, a 5kg load cell with HX711 amplifier, and a multi-channel alert mechanism (LEDs, buzzer, and 16x2 I2C liquid-crystal display (LCD), coupled with cloud connectivity via ThingSpeak and notification services (Mailjet and Twilio). It continuously tracks IV fluid levels, converting weight data into volume measurements, and triggers real-time alerts at warning (50%) and critical (15%) thresholds. The system implemented several Security features, including Transport Layer Security. (TLS) encryption and multi-tier authentication to ensure data integrity. The Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was used as the programming environment due to its cross-platform compatibility, simplicity, and robust support for ESP32 development. Its intuitive interface accelerated prototyping, enabling rapid deployment of test code for sensor calibration. It has an extensive community-driven documentation and troubleshooting resources, which simplified resolving hardware-specific challenges, such as I2C address conflicts between the HX711 and LCD. Additionally, the IDE’s serial plotter tool proved invaluable for visualizing real-time weight data during load cell calibration, ensuring the accuracy of the weight-to-volume conversion algorithm. The system was tested using use case and it satisfied all test conditions making it very suitable for intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller

AU  - Oladunjoye John Abiodun
AU  - Okwori Anthony Okpe
AU  - Athony Obogo Otiko
AU  - Adogwu Samuel Junior
Y1  - 2025/10/30
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
T2  - International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks
JF  - International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks
JO  - International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks
SP  - 46
EP  - 55
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-1788
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
AB  - The application of internet of things (IoT) in critical sectors of human endeavours has extended greatly to healthcare services where IoT technologies has been used to monitor several patient’s vital signs such as heartbeat, glucose level, blood pressure among others and provide timely report for immediate attention to enhance patient’s outcomes. In Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers, the ratio of nurses to patients is very low and most patient needs intravenous (IV) therapy as there are always several critical cases to handle hence a need for automated intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers. Intravenous therapy is a critical component of medical care, yet most Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers rely on traditional monitoring methods that are prone to human error that could compromise patient safety. This paper aims at implementing an internet of things (IoT) based IV fluid level monitoring and alert system in Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers. The system was developed using ESP32 microcontroller, a 5kg load cell with HX711 amplifier, and a multi-channel alert mechanism (LEDs, buzzer, and 16x2 I2C liquid-crystal display (LCD), coupled with cloud connectivity via ThingSpeak and notification services (Mailjet and Twilio). It continuously tracks IV fluid levels, converting weight data into volume measurements, and triggers real-time alerts at warning (50%) and critical (15%) thresholds. The system implemented several Security features, including Transport Layer Security. (TLS) encryption and multi-tier authentication to ensure data integrity. The Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was used as the programming environment due to its cross-platform compatibility, simplicity, and robust support for ESP32 development. Its intuitive interface accelerated prototyping, enabling rapid deployment of test code for sensor calibration. It has an extensive community-driven documentation and troubleshooting resources, which simplified resolving hardware-specific challenges, such as I2C address conflicts between the HX711 and LCD. Additionally, the IDE’s serial plotter tool proved invaluable for visualizing real-time weight data during load cell calibration, ensuring the accuracy of the weight-to-volume conversion algorithm. The system was tested using use case and it satisfied all test conditions making it very suitable for intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Oladunjoye John Abiodun

Department of Computer Science, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Nigeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0864-8971
Okwori Anthony Okpe

Department of Computer Science, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Nigeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4981-5537
Athony Obogo Otiko

Department of Computer Science, UniCross, Calabar, Nigeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2226-4843
Adogwu Samuel Junior

Department of Computer Science, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Nigeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7778-8097

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APA Style

Abiodun, O. J., Okpe, O. A., Otiko, A. O., Junior, A. S. (2025). Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller. International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks, 13(2), 46-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

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ACS Style

Abiodun, O. J.; Okpe, O. A.; Otiko, A. O.; Junior, A. S. Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller. Int. J. Sens. Sens. Netw. 2025, 13(2), 46-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Abiodun OJ, Okpe OA, Otiko AO, Junior AS. Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller. Int J Sens Sens Netw. 2025;13(2):46-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13,
  author = {Oladunjoye John Abiodun and Okwori Anthony Okpe and Athony Obogo Otiko and Adogwu Samuel Junior},
  title = {Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller
},
  journal = {International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {46-55},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijssn.20251302.13},
  abstract = {The application of internet of things (IoT) in critical sectors of human endeavours has extended greatly to healthcare services where IoT technologies has been used to monitor several patient’s vital signs such as heartbeat, glucose level, blood pressure among others and provide timely report for immediate attention to enhance patient’s outcomes. In Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers, the ratio of nurses to patients is very low and most patient needs intravenous (IV) therapy as there are always several critical cases to handle hence a need for automated intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers. Intravenous therapy is a critical component of medical care, yet most Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers rely on traditional monitoring methods that are prone to human error that could compromise patient safety. This paper aims at implementing an internet of things (IoT) based IV fluid level monitoring and alert system in Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers. The system was developed using ESP32 microcontroller, a 5kg load cell with HX711 amplifier, and a multi-channel alert mechanism (LEDs, buzzer, and 16x2 I2C liquid-crystal display (LCD), coupled with cloud connectivity via ThingSpeak and notification services (Mailjet and Twilio). It continuously tracks IV fluid levels, converting weight data into volume measurements, and triggers real-time alerts at warning (50%) and critical (15%) thresholds. The system implemented several Security features, including Transport Layer Security. (TLS) encryption and multi-tier authentication to ensure data integrity. The Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was used as the programming environment due to its cross-platform compatibility, simplicity, and robust support for ESP32 development. Its intuitive interface accelerated prototyping, enabling rapid deployment of test code for sensor calibration. It has an extensive community-driven documentation and troubleshooting resources, which simplified resolving hardware-specific challenges, such as I2C address conflicts between the HX711 and LCD. Additionally, the IDE’s serial plotter tool proved invaluable for visualizing real-time weight data during load cell calibration, ensuring the accuracy of the weight-to-volume conversion algorithm. The system was tested using use case and it satisfied all test conditions making it very suitable for intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Internet of Things Based Intravenous Fluid Level Monitoring and Alert System for Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare Centers Using Esp32 Microcontroller

AU  - Oladunjoye John Abiodun
AU  - Okwori Anthony Okpe
AU  - Athony Obogo Otiko
AU  - Adogwu Samuel Junior
Y1  - 2025/10/30
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
T2  - International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks
JF  - International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks
JO  - International Journal of Sensors and Sensor Networks
SP  - 46
EP  - 55
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-1788
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijssn.20251302.13
AB  - The application of internet of things (IoT) in critical sectors of human endeavours has extended greatly to healthcare services where IoT technologies has been used to monitor several patient’s vital signs such as heartbeat, glucose level, blood pressure among others and provide timely report for immediate attention to enhance patient’s outcomes. In Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers, the ratio of nurses to patients is very low and most patient needs intravenous (IV) therapy as there are always several critical cases to handle hence a need for automated intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers. Intravenous therapy is a critical component of medical care, yet most Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers rely on traditional monitoring methods that are prone to human error that could compromise patient safety. This paper aims at implementing an internet of things (IoT) based IV fluid level monitoring and alert system in Nigeria tertiary healthcare centers. The system was developed using ESP32 microcontroller, a 5kg load cell with HX711 amplifier, and a multi-channel alert mechanism (LEDs, buzzer, and 16x2 I2C liquid-crystal display (LCD), coupled with cloud connectivity via ThingSpeak and notification services (Mailjet and Twilio). It continuously tracks IV fluid levels, converting weight data into volume measurements, and triggers real-time alerts at warning (50%) and critical (15%) thresholds. The system implemented several Security features, including Transport Layer Security. (TLS) encryption and multi-tier authentication to ensure data integrity. The Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was used as the programming environment due to its cross-platform compatibility, simplicity, and robust support for ESP32 development. Its intuitive interface accelerated prototyping, enabling rapid deployment of test code for sensor calibration. It has an extensive community-driven documentation and troubleshooting resources, which simplified resolving hardware-specific challenges, such as I2C address conflicts between the HX711 and LCD. Additionally, the IDE’s serial plotter tool proved invaluable for visualizing real-time weight data during load cell calibration, ensuring the accuracy of the weight-to-volume conversion algorithm. The system was tested using use case and it satisfied all test conditions making it very suitable for intravenous fluid level monitoring in our tertiary healthcare centers.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download