Thursday, September 17, 2009

Simple Umbilical Cord Cutting Tool to Overcome Infection in Third World

Filed under: Pediatrics

A good deal of child birth in poor regions takes place without clinician assistance or properly sanitized tools. Researchers at Tulane University have developed a cheap umbilical cord cutting tool aimed at the developing world which may help prevent millions of neonatal infections. The SafeSnip can cut, seal, and sanitize the cord in one step and should cost less than $1 to manufacture.

"You take the umbilical cord in one hand and just clamp down on it," says William Kethman, who applied for the patent with fellow 2008 School of Science and Engineering graduates Bryan Molter, Stephanie Roberts and Mark Young, as well as David Rice, associate professor of biomedical engineering.

After the cord is severed, SafeSnip breaks in two, leaving one half of the device firmly clamped onto the baby's umbilical cord to seal the wound while the other is discarded.

Press release: Students' Invention Aids Safe Childbirth...

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