Healing Connections

The Technion- Israel Institute of Technology have developed an innovative device for monitoring respiration, especially in premature babies. The non-invasive technology, which is being clinically tested at the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, uses sensors to monitor lung activity.

Existing equipment in intensive care units does not monitor for respiratory problems and up to six hours can elapse from when a problem occurs in lung ventilation until medical personnel detect it. Detection therefore generally occurs only when the baby is already exhibiting signs of distress and there is a danger of irreversible damage to the body’s organs.

The unique device developed at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering can detect respiratory irregularities in newborn babies at an early stage, reducing the risk of long-term damage to vital organs. Early detection of respiratory problems, such as accumulation of air between the lungs and chest cavity walls, partial blockage of the air passages, or breathing from only one lung is prevented, reducing the risk of complications and irreversible brain damage.

The technology is currently being developed for clinical use by Israeli company Pneumedicare, headed by Technion academics Professor Amir Landesburg, Dr Dan Waisman and Dr Carmit Levy.

Dr. Carmit Levy, Director of Pneumedicare commented: “We directly monitor the mechanics of respiration by placing sensors on two sides of the chest and the upper part of the stomach of a premature baby on a respirator. Thus, we can monitor a lack of symmetry between the two lungs and the development of mechanical disturbances in lung ventilation.”