To help ensure that newborn babies are monitored as effectively as possible in the neonatal intensive care units, and that newborn transport is safe and smooth, Carleton University’s researchers are collaborating with Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and safeguarding newborns’ health through innovative engineering solutions.
The engineering team at Carleton have developed a new approach to monitoring a baby’s vital signs: a pressure-sensitive mat that goes under the infant and an advanced imaging camera positioned above the baby’s isolette or crib. These non-contact sensors enhance the capabilities of traditional wired sensors by adding layers of context, even when a baby is covered in a blanket. This information could change how clinicians interpret alarms and care for babies.
To explore ways to reduce exposure to vibration and noise for newborns in transit, researchers are also looking at variables such as how patient transport equipment is designed and secured in vehicles to reduce the vibrations and sound experienced by patients and to develop novel approaches for real-time monitoring. This work will improve infant safety during medical transportation and improve health outcomes to give sensitive babies the healthiest start possible.
For more information, visit Carleton University.
