Soft, all-in-one, nanomembrane wearable system for advancing neonatal health monitoring in Ethiopia

Abstract

The neonatal period is critical and stressful, particularly in low-resource settings where existing monitoring methods for newborns are sporadic and labor-intensive. There is a pressing need for an affordable, user-friendly device that offers continuous and effective monitoring. Here, we present a soft, all-in-one, wearable system designed for continuous wireless monitoring of neonatal health in low-resource settings. Developed using advanced packaging technologies, this system features a chest-mounted patch and a forehead-mounted pulse oximeter that transmit real-time data to a smartphone app. The integrated device measures clinical-grade parameters, including electrocardiograms, heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, and blood oxygen saturation, showing excellent correlation with hospital-grade tabletop devices and reduced motion artifacts. This pilot study demonstrates a significant improvement over current monitoring methods by providing continuous oversight, ensures critical events are not missed, and automates the process for enhanced neonatal care, resulting in 84% satisfaction by parents interested in using the system at home.