MIMO Pillow - an Intelligent & Ergonomic System for Developing Physiological Parameters in New-born Infants

Abstract

Premature infants are subjected to numerous interventions ranging from a simple diaper change to surgery while residing in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). These neonates often suffer from pain, distress and discomfort during the first weeks of their lives. Pharmacological pain treatment cannot be considered as a source to relieve a neonate from pain or discomfort. A non-pharmacological solution, MIMO has been designed to mediate the parent's heartbeat by means of vibrations, much like a pulse sensed by the photo plethysmograph sensor. The MIMO concept consists of two parts: a recording unit and a technologically enhanced pillow. The recording unit is used to record physiological data (such as heartbeat, breathing rhythm, parental smell and body temperature) from a parent which can then be transferred to the pillow, which includes technology to enable it to `replay' the recorded data to the neonate. The main controller of the MIMO Recorder is an Arduino Uno microcomputer, which handles almost the complete recording process ranging from sensing the heart-beat vibrations and storage to transmission of the heartbeat to the Pillow. The MIMO aims at comforting a neonate by providing the baby with a feeling similar to that of being close to a parent to relieve pain.