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DIGITAL HEALTH

Wireless monitoring in the ICU on the horizon

Nature Medicine volume 26, pages 316–317 (2020)Cite this article

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Wireless monitoring of vital signs in the neonatal intensive care unit enables the detection of vital signs, body movement, and vocalization.

Chung et al. had previously developed a wireless sensor for monitoring infants in the ICU, and here they refined this2. They used Bluetooth technology, which allowed signal transmission of up to a distance of 10 meters. The sensor has the ability to capture movement and position signals; vocal changes (cries); and quantified pulse-wave dynamics, which can help in the recording of blood pressure. The sensors were tested for vital-signs monitoring for short periods in 3–20 neonates, and skin safety was assessed for a continuous 24 hours in 50 neonates. Comparing the new prototype and current standard sensors, the authors identified very small measurement differences between the two for heart rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature, and slightly greater differences for respiratory rate and blood pressure (still within recommended ranges) over a 60-minute period, in even in preterm neonates of 27 weeks’ gestation. Other notable advantages of the new sensors included maintenance of skin integrity after 24 hours of continuous use with no heat-induced damage, and a lack of interference with diagnostic imaging studies such as X-rays.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    Prakesh S. Shah

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Prakesh S. Shah

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  1. Prakesh S. Shah
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Correspondence to Prakesh S. Shah.

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Shah, P.S. Wireless monitoring in the ICU on the horizon. Nat Med 26, 316–317 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0798-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0798-3

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