Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts have developed a prototype flexible sensor the size of a Band-Aid that will measure a baby’s blood oxygen levels, a vital indication of the lungs’ effectiveness and whether the baby’s tissue is receiving adequate oxygen supply. The wearable device, which is wireless and inexpensive, may allow sick newborns to leave the hospital and be monitored remotely.
Ulkuhan Guler, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of WPI’s Integrated Circuits and Systems Lab, is leading the project focused on enabling sick, hospitalized babies to be untethered from wired sensors, so they can more easily and frequently be examined, held, and even allowed to go home. Guler and her team have developed a miniature oxygen monitor for babies, which measures blood gases diffusing through the skin and reports the data wirelessly,报告WPI。
古勒说：“在医院的延长住宿是昂贵的，可能会给家庭带来压力。”“研究表明，婴儿与家人在一起时的健康状况会有所改善。我们使用这种负担得起的移动设备的目标是使医生在医院和家里监测患者的灵活性。”
测量氧分子的常规方法涉及与监视器连接的传感器。但是古勒的设备可以无线完成。通过警报或移动应用程序，该设备还通知医院的人员或家人，如果婴儿的氧气水平开始下降。
可穿戴设备旨在测量二压氧（PO2），这表明血液中的氧气量。与简单的氧饱和度测量相比，PO2是更准确的呼吸健康指标。WPI报告说，通过附着在皮肤上的无创设备测量PO2水平与血液检查一样准确。
在她的研究的另一阶段，古勒（Guler）计划修改可穿戴设备，以便将其用于患有哮喘和慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的成年人。
阅读更多无线，柔软，灵活的传感器在监视早产婴儿方面表现出希望
Guler与WPI机械工程副教授Pratap Rao和儿科系主任劳伦斯·莱恩（Lawrence Rhein）和马萨诸塞大学医学院副教授合作。WPI电气和计算机工程研究生的Ian Costanzo和Devdip Sen也正在与Guler合作创建芯片，最终将充当可穿戴设备的核心。
“The concept of the technology is that if we have more accessible data for a person of any age, we’ll be able to better take care of these patients,” said Rhein, who has been advising Guler on what’s needed in a hospital and home setting. “The idea of noninvasive, untethered, accessible data collection opens up a whole new world of care.”
