Tiny chest monitor could change lives in neonatal intensive care

A tiny piece of technology weighing no more than a raindrop has been developed to revolutionise the way premature babies are looked after in intensive care units.

A TINY chest sensor weighing no more than a raindrop has been developed to replace the “rat’s nest” tangle of wires that monitor babies in neonatal intensive care units and can hinder skin-to-skin contact with parents.

Brisbane doctors are keen to explore the cutting-edge technology.

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After completing a series of human studies, the international researchers found the wireless sensors provided data as precise and accurate as that from traditional monitoring systems.

Mater Mothers’ Hospital director of neonatology Dr Pita Birch said Mater’s

Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) was always open to exploring new technology once proven and available.

Mum Katelyn Springer with one of her twin babies Roman Trocus.

“Once the technology for soft, flexible wireless sensors is commercially available and has been proven outside of a single trial, Mater’s NCCU would explore the possibility of using it,” Dr Birch said.

“It is important to point out that Mater’s NCCU would not restrict holding or cuddling any newborn baby because of monitoring leads. We would only restrict skin-to-skin, or kangaroo cuddles, due to a baby’s cardiorespiratory stability and the ability for the baby to tolerate being moved. Once the baby is stable we encourage skin-to-skin, or kangaroo cuddles, regardless of any equipment we use to monitor baby’s vital signs,” the neonatal specialist said.

The device was created at Midwestern University by materials scientists, engineers, dermatologists and paediatricians. The research has appeared in the journal Science.

“We wanted to eliminate the rat’s nest of wires and aggressive adhesives associated with existing hardware systems and replace them with something safer, more patient-centric and more compatible with parent-child interaction,” John A Rogers, a bio-electronics pioneer, who led the technology development, said.

The researchers predict the sensor will be in use in hospitals in the next two or three years.

Mum Katelyn Springer with one of her twin babies Roman Trocus. Picture: AAP/John Gass

Mater mum Katelyn Springer’s twin boys Hendricks and Roman arrived almost three months early at 1160g each.

While the wireless sensor is designed to make cuddling easier for mums, she treasures precious time cuddling her twins regardless of wires and has been able to hold them nearly ever day during their stay in NCCU.

“I’ve been fortunate here at the Mater as I have been able to cuddle as much as I can and cords haven’t impacted my ability to have kangaroo care with them,” she said.