What we do
Motivation
About 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks) and these infants often require substantial support throughout the first weeks of life. This intensive care starts immediately after birth when the neonate is undergoing important physiological changes to adapt to life outside the womb. Current practice relies on protocol-driven care rather individualized decision making. The interventions during this transition period may however have lifelong consequences which emphasizes the necessity to develop ways to improve our management.
Aim
The SMART-NeonaTO project aims to develop a smart system that supports clinicians during the stabilization of premature and critically ill newborns immediately after birth. The system combines a smart digital care coach, a specialized sensor patch, and an adaptive ventilation module that synchronizes with the baby's own breathing.
Impact of patient care
By delivering faster, near-real-time information and ventilation synchronized to the baby's own breathing, SMART-NeonaTO helps clinicians make better-informed decisions in the critical first minutes after birth. Ultimately improving outcomes and reducing both the human and economic burden of preterm birth.
Stabilization guidance
The Erasmus MC is driving the work package in developing the digital care coach that will guide clinicians throughout the perinatal stabilization. The focus is on creating a continuum of care by combining prenatal data, such as prognostic ultrasound markers, with real-team input from innovative sensors.
Simulation training
The newly developed prototype will be tested and improved during simulation sessions at different teaching hospitals (Erasmus MC, UZ Antwerpen and MMC Veldhoven).
European program Interreg VI A Vlaanderen – Nederland (2021 - 2027)
Collaborations within Erasmus MC
- Department of Pediatric Intensive Care and Neonatology.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Collaborations outside of Erasmus MC
- DEMCON macawi respiratory systems B.V.
- Itemedical N.V.
- Máxima Medisch Centrum.
- Quad Industries NV.
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen.
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
