Newborn Respiration Sensor

All those parents who have had to leave their premature babies in an intensive care unit, know how annoying it is that their children have sensors attached to their body and connected, through an amalgam of cables, to control devices. But that swarm of cables is the only thing that will allow us to monitor the baby's vital signs while it struggles to survive in an environment that has nothing to do with the mother's womb.

At least so far, since an interdisciplinary team from Northwestern University (Illinois) has developed a novel system ofwireless sensors that monitor newborn breathing eliminating the physical barrier that the tangle of cables supposed for the contact between parents and child.

Wireless sensors for preterm infants

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According to the magazine (, the biosensor is composed oftwo flexible silicone patches and very fine that only need water to adhere to the delicate skin of the baby.

Once in place (one on the chest and one on the foot), its ultra-thin electrodes allow auntethered vital signs monitoring. In addition, they offer other types of extra measurements that could not be recorded before, but are key in the development of the baby, such as blood flow, heart function and variations in blood pressure throughout the day.

To access the recorded data, you only need a mobile phone or a tablet. This advance, in addition to making the task easier for doctors and nurses, favors the‘skin-to-skin’ contact between babies and their parents, since, by eliminating the cables, they can hold their children in their arms and even take small walks around the room.

According to the researchers, these wireless sensors providedata as accurate as traditional monitoring systems, but the difference is that these patches are less invasive, they do not damage the fragile skin of the premature baby, and, being transparent, they are compatible with X-ray imaging techniques, MRIs or MRIs.

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So far they havesuccessfully tested in seventy neonates and it is expected that in two or three years they will be available in the United States, with a price of 9 euros per patch.

Other Advances for Premature Babies

In recent years, the world of technology has focused its efforts oncare of premature babies. A good example of them are the numerous advances that have emerged to respond to the different needs of newborns who require.

The thermal baby crib that optimizes their emotional development

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In 2015, a group of Mexican researchers developed asmart warmer that allows to regulate the baby's temperature while recreating the same sensations that he had when he was in the womb, which has a very positive impact on the emotional development of the baby.

In addition to the qualities that the rest ofheated cribs that already existed in the market, it reproduces the mother's heartbeat, records the baby's weight, and monitors its vital signs.

The incubator with F1 technology

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is the name of an innovative incubator that has everything you need tomake emergency transfers to the hospital. Its peculiarity is that it is designed by the Williams team following the same techniques and using the same materials that are used in the manufacture of Formula 1 cars.

The exterior, made with carbon fiber, and its padded interior covered with a transparent sliding cover, allowstransfer sick babies while maintaining a constant temperature, while protecting you from vibrations and noise. In addition, unlike traditional incubators, this one does not need an electrical supply to operate, which makes it even easier to transport.

The current price of the incubator is5,700 euros.

Artificial Uterus for "Extremely Premature" Babies

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One of the most impressive advances in the field of neonatology is, without a doubt, this artificial uterus indicated for extremely premature babies, since it serves as a bridge between the mother's womb and the outside world,promoting the development of the baby during the months that remain until his birth.

So far, the device has been tested with great success in six lambs with a human gestation equivalent of 23 weeks. It is expected thatin a few years it can be used in humans.