A Wearable Sensor For Monitoring Kangaroo Mother Care Treatment For Premature Neonates

We describe a new wearable device that has been developed to monitor the effectiveness of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) treatment administered to premature neonates. We identify the sensors needed to monitor KMC treatment. Our device measures the neonate's and caregiver's skin temperature and the neonate's relative position during KMC. The device incorporates skin touch sensors to qualify the temperature readings, thus preventing false alarms. Design constraints related to form factor, placement and battery life and few measurement results from pre-clinical trials are provided.