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Biologically aware lighting for newborn intensive care

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 49–54 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

We designed and implemented a novel neonatal intensive care (NICU) lighting system to support the current understanding of daylight-coupled physiology.

Methods

We created a system that generates wavelengths corresponding to the known blue and violet activation spectra of non-visual opsins. These are known to mediate energy management and related physiologic activity.

Results

Light produced by the system spans the visible spectrum, including violet wavelengths that are blocked by modern glazing and not emitted by standard LED fixtures. System features include automated light and dark phases that mimic dawn/dusk. The system also matches length of day seasonality. Spectral composition can be varied to support translational research protocols. Implementation required a comprehensive strategy to inform bedside providers about the value and use of the lighting system.

Conclusion

Full-spectrum lighting for the NICU is feasible and will inform the optimization of the NICU environment of care to support optimal neonatal growth and development.

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Fig. 1: Spectral distributions were measured with a ST-UV-100 microspectrometer (Ocean Insight, Orlando, FL) calibrated to a DH-3P-BAL-CAL light source.
Fig. 2: A sample spectral distribution recipe for light generated in the Critical Care Building NICU.
Fig. 3: Weekly usage of the spectral lighting system was calculated from November 2021 to June 2023 for three randomly selected rooms.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed for this article are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the collaboration of Robert Soler (BIOS LLC), Marty Brennan (ZGF Architects), Jeannine Wang (Acuity Brands), Lauri Tredinnick (Pivotal Lighting Design), Greg Goertemoeller (Messer Construction), Michael Browning (Cincinnati Children’s), Oliver Rhine (Cincinnati Children’s), Alex Miller (Cincinnati Children’s), Tony Johnston (Cincinnati Children’s), and Steve Davis (Cincinnati Children’s).

Funding

The NICU spectral lighting system was funded as a component of the Cincinnati Children’s Critical Care Building construction. The Science of Light Center receives funding through the Academic Research Committee of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation. This work was supported in part by funding to RAL from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health (EY032029, EY032752, and EY032566), from the McClung Foundation, and from the Emma and Irving Goldman Scholar endowed Chair of the Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Yuying Cao

    Present address: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science of Light Center, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    James M. Greenberg, Katherine A. Gruner, Lousette Rodney & Jaime N. Struve

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    James M. Greenberg, Katherine A. Gruner, Lousette Rodney & Jaime N. Struve

  3. Science of Light Center, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Daniel Kang, Yuying Cao & Richard A. Lang

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Daniel Kang, Yuying Cao & Richard A. Lang

Authors
  1. James M. Greenberg
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  2. Katherine A. Gruner
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  3. Lousette Rodney
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  4. Jaime N. Struve
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  5. Daniel Kang
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  6. Yuying Cao
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  7. Richard A. Lang
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Contributions

JMG and RAL conceived, developed, and designed the lighting system and wrote the manuscript. KAG, LR, JNS, DK, and YC developed measurement methods and performed spectral analyses.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James M. Greenberg.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Drs. RAL and JMG are co-inventors on a patent licensed to BIOS, LLC. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has licensed this technology to BIOS, LLC, the designer of the lighting system used in this study. Drs. RAL and JMG do not have any personal financial interest in BIOS, LLC, but could receive royalty payments through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

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Greenberg, J.M., Gruner, K.A., Rodney, L. et al. Biologically aware lighting for newborn intensive care. J Perinatol 43 (Suppl 1), 49–54 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01816-z

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