Abstract
Effects of transferring critically ill babies between hospitals were investigated using innovative Race Technology equipment.
The Neonatal Transport Team conducted a project into the effects of transporting critically ill new-born babies between hospitals using an innovative, ‘race-bred’ piece of equipment from Race Technology which was secured to a transport incubator. The data logger uses an accelerometer combined with GPS technology to provide an electronic movement profile of the whole transfer.
The study compared how the speed of the ambulance, G forces and vibration experienced by the baby related to the stability of the vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. Premature and critically ill babies needing intensive care transfer are at increased risk of brain injury.
A better understanding of the physiological effects of movement and vibration, at a critical stage in their lives, will enable technological improvements in ambulance and incubator design and real time driver feedback, to improve the long term health outcomes, when these journeys are unavoidable.
To find out more on this Horizontal Innovation initiative please visit www.theiet.org/horizontal-innovation
