Cooling mattress and apnea detector with stimulator for HIE neonates

Abstract

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) refers to the acute clinical syndrome seen in babies which is typically prenatal in timing. It is estimated that HIE is seen in 1-8 of every 1000 births. Despite advancements in prenatal care, HIE in late preterm and term neonates remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This paper deals with the design of a system to treat HIE through whole body cooling of the neonate through a special mattress made of porous silica aero gel. The method of silica aero gel preparation is sol-gel process using organic silicon monomer, such as tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor.72 hours of cooling reduces the infant's illness by cutting down the metabolic rate. The infant's temperature is regulated by a temperature monitoring and a rewarming circuit similar to a radiant warmer. During this course the newborn encounters obstructive respiratory cycles, termed Apnea which causes mental and physiological distress. A simple microphone sensor based Apnea detector and a vibro tactile stimulator thus designed improvised the behavior of the neonate. The silica aero gel mattress provides effective cooling and portability during emergency situations. The mattress offers improved cooling results than conventional water or passive cooling techniques.