Researchers at the Harvard’s Wyss Institute have just published the results of a clinical study in which their vibrating mattress device successfully reduced infant apnea by 50%. This device was based on previous work done by a Wyss Institute Core Faculty member James Collins, Ph.D. His work showed that with a modest amount of random vibrations, or “noise”, applied to a human body, sensitivity of that body to stimuli will increase. The researchers then took this phenomenon and applied it by designing a mattress device that delivers a small amount of vibration to preterm infants. What they found in a pilot study was that it helped stabilize the kids’ breathing as well as improved blood oxygenation without waking the infant.
In the new clinical study with 36 different preterm infants with at least one previous episode of apnea, the team found a significant reduction in the apneic episodes. In fact, they found that the effects of this device worked on top of the effects of caffeine, which is currently used to manage apnea in preterm infants. Additionally, the group took into consideration various design issues such as limiting the amount of vibration that would be delivered to the head of the infant, which would protect the developing brain. Initial targets in commercializing this product will be Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and future targets could potentially be the home market or markets in developing countries.
More info on the device: Infant apnea prevention…
Clinical Study in Pediatrics: Stochastic Resonance Effects on Apnea, Bradycardia, and Oxygenation: A Randomized Controlled Trial…
Older study in Journal of Applied Physiology: Stabilizing immature breathing patterns of preterm infants using stochastic mechanosensory stimulation…
Wyss Institute announcement: Effectiveness of infant apnea prevention technology demonstrated in clinical trial…