As an intern at the medical design firm Key Tech, I was given the opportunity to do a self-directed project. I worked with engineers and designers to determine an area of opportunity in neonatal vital signs monitoring. I led a brainstorm to generate concepts and took advantage of the medical community in Baltimore to validate the project direction.
ECG leads are attached to newborns' skin and are crucial to monitoring heart vitals, but the skin of neonates is delicate and can be damaged by adhesive on the leads. I interviewed a neonatal nurse in Baltimore named Karen, who validated this problem. Nurses do their best to be careful with where they place the leads, she said, but it’s ultimately a guess. The many wires connecting the leads to the patient monitor are an additional danger.
In a Philips Research Group study it is validated that a capacitive sensor can monitor ECG with high accuracy. The sensor can be integrated into a band, presenting an opportunity for an adhesive-free and reusable ECG solution.
Mentor: Andre Minoli, Senior Industrial Designer
