Bulletin
#88 AUTUMN 2017
Researchers trial high-tech help for premature babies Breathing normally is often the biggest challenge facing premature babies, many of whom need respiratory support after birth. Research by Menzies, with other University of Tasmania colleagues and the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) is combining the fields of neonatology and biomedical engineering to break new ground, with a trial under way that uses robotics to accurately manage the flow of oxygen to premature babies. The task for the engineers includes varying the oxygen level in response to changes in the babies’ breathing. Menzies researcher and RHH neonatologist Professor Peter Dargaville and robotics expert Dr Tim Gale, from the University’s School of Engineering and ICT, have been
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Caring for premature babies: RHH Neonatologist Professor Peter Dargaville in the Royal Hobart Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. Photo: Peter Mathew
They are very vital humans right from the beginning, but have to overcome a big hurdle in relation to lung function. working together for 10 years and have seen numerous PhD, Masters and Honours students contribute to the research. The team has developed a new device that automatically controls the concentration of oxygen in the gas delivered to a baby’s lungs. The device, known as the inspired oxygen controller, has shown great promise in an initial clinical study in 2015, and a second, larger trial has just begun. With refinement, further validation and likely industry uptake, the oxygen controller has the potential to make a worldwide impact in neonatal clinical care. In March Professor Dargaville, Dr Gale and the CEO of Miracle Babies, Melinda Cruz, spoke at a Menzies Public Talk about
the research and the value of community participation in medical research. Professor Dargaville said that the team working from the RHH, a small neonatal unit with a relatively small number of babies, believes their work is on the verge of making a difference internationally. “Preterm babies are an incredible package of resilience and vulnerability. They are very vital humans right from the beginning, but have to overcome a big hurdle in relation to lung function,”
HOW TO DONATE
he said. This is an issue in every neonatal ward in Australia, but is even more acute in the developing world, where under‑resourced hospitals cannot keep up with the needs of such vulnerable infants. The research team is looking into the causes, consequences and solutions for preterm babies’ breathing difficulties. On the engineering side, one of the biggest difficulties is in automating a response to something in which the properties are constantly changing. “The challenge is to make the automation work safely. In the past this has been too hard, but we are now adapting the automation to what is happening with the baby at the time,” Dr Gale said. In 2015 the inspired oxygen controller was trialled on 20 babies for four hours. In 2017 the researchers will be trialling 60 periods of automated control, for 24 hours, in between 30 and 60 babies. If the trials continue to be successful it is highly likely the inspired oxygen controller will be commercialised and available to hospitals throughout the world.
To donate to our appeal for neonatal research, either go to the Donate tab at menzies.utas.edu.au, return the donation slip attached to this Bulletin or call 1800 638 124 or 03 6226 7700.
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