Monitoring Premature Babies. Soon Cameras instead of Sensors?

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At the hospital, the cameras could replace sensors to ensure medical care for babies born prematurely.

Researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Center for Electronics and Micro technology (CSEM) have developed a new camera system is supposed to help ensure medical care for babies born prematurely. term goal: to replace the sensors, which generate nearly 90% of false alarms.

At the hospital, the cameras could soon replace the sensors to ensure the medical care of premature babies. This system of a new type has been developed by researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Center for Electronics and micro-technology (CSEM).

The principle ? Allowing continuous measurement of vital signs in infants, without any physical contact and wireless. The heartbeat is detected from the slight variations in the color of the baby’s skin, caused by the heart beat while breath is analyzed via movements of the chest and shoulders. At night infrared cameras take over.

The first tests should start soon

Currently, sensors placed on the chest premature “are so sensitive that they generate almost 90% of false alarms, especially due to the babies movements” , said in a statement Dr. Jean-Claude Fauchère, Medical Assistant of neonatology clinic at the university Hospital Zuric.

He added: “this causes discomfort to the baby, which must handle each time, and a major stressor and an unnecessary mobilization of nurses. They can manage potentially less true emergencies, disrupting their care work. “ The Zurich University Hospital, project partner, will soon welcome the first tests on newborns, but no date has yet been communicated.

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