Non-contact vital sign detection of the newborn – Year two

Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology and biomedical engineering, working towards non-contact vital signs detection. This technology would be especially helpful in the case of high-risk or premature newborns. Continuous or at least frequent monitoring of newborns outside of clinical environments improves quality of life for parents and newborns recently discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Feasibility of such monitoring depends in part on the monitors being non-invasive and non-obtrusive. Although non-contact monitoring provides a variety of advantages compared to conventional contact constrained methods, there are engineering challenges to overcome to apply this technology to this unique population. As an academic partner, our research team, located onsite at BC Children’s Hospital, will develop and validate a video-based device for in-crib monitoring of heart rate and respiratory rate of high risk infants. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Guy Dumont

Student:

Soodeh Ahani

Partner:

Medtronic of Canada

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of British Columbia