To improve neonatal care, medical professionals are increasingly using the new technological innovations of the medical sector. Smart technologies and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven monitoring systems that continually assess the baby’s vital signs and anticipate any health issues before they become critical are now being constantly used. To provide early warnings for dangerous medical issues, current NICUs employ machine learning algorithms to spot issues that human observers might just overlook. In fact, using AI algorithms and other neonatal care technology results in better care and protects the health of newborns to a significant level!

Sophisticated incubators that provide more than simply a regulated atmosphere are increasingly available in NICUs because these incubators include built-in sensors that track the baby's movements as well as temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels. Every year, between ten and fifteen per cent of babies born in the US are hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and as a result of these new technologies, they are receiving life-saving care.  

How Technology is Saving Babies in the Neonatal Care Units

A number of new technologies are being used in neonatal care and so their impact is tremendous. Take a look at the modern technologies that are changing the entire landscape of neonatal care! 

1. Genomics and Personalized Medicine 

By tailoring therapies to each infant's unique requirements, personalized medicine is truly revolutionizing newborn care! Targeted therapies are now available widely because of the early detection of genetic diseases made possible by all the advances in genomic sequencing. Whole-genome sequencing is now quicker and easier to obtain and that enables prompt diagnosis and treatment of many genetic illnesses. Advancements in neonatal care include pharmacogenomics, the study of how genes influence an individual's reaction to certain medications.

2. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

One of the commonest problems is the newborn period is respiratory difficulty which can happen to both preterm and term babies. It is because of this that advancements in respiratory support greatly impact neonatal care. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( ECMO ) is a unique way of giving respiratory support to babies with respiratory difficulty not responding to conventional forms of respiratory support. Like a heart-lung machine, ECMO is a unique method of treatment for infants with breathing issues because ECMO involves pumping blood from the baby's vein through an artificial lung, which removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen. Additionally, advancements in Ventilator technology are improving respiratory outcomes and survival rates for preterm children by lowering the stress in the lungs and maintaining wide airways for them to breathe.

3. Advanced Imaging Techniques

Significant advancements in imaging technology have made it possible to observe newborn anatomy and physiology in greater clarity and depth, and there are now non-invasive methods to check for brain disorders as well. All of this is thanks to high-resolution screening tools, which are specifically made for newborns! Other cutting-edge imaging methods also aid in the early identification of problems, including congenital heart abnormalities, brain traumas, and other serious illnesses, and this will ultimately enable timely and effective therapies.

4. Phototherapy

This is the most popular treatment used by neonatal practitioners to treat neonatal jaundice, which is brought on by an excess of a substance called bilirubin, in the body. In a standard phototherapy session, a baby is placed in an incubator and exposed to fluorescent light, and as the baby's bilirubin gets altered by the process, the baby expels it in their urine or stool. The fibre-optic blanket is another way of administering phototherapy to the baby , where the baby is placed on a blanket that emits light of the desired wavelength.

5. Remote Monitoring and Telemedicine 

Telemedicine has emerged as an essential tool, especially in rural areas! Neonatologists and other medical professionals can now have real-time video consultations with the parents & doctors and then make observations because of the developments in this technology. Significant advancements have also been achieved in remote monitoring technologies, and vital signs and other health measures may now be continually tracked by wearable technology made for newborns. These devices can send data to medical professionals promptly! Because these devices are minimally intrusive, they can provide vital health information without interfering at all with the infant's comfort or health.

6. Brain and Body Cooling

Babies who do not breathe at birth and who are at risk for hypoxic brain damage can now be cooled to ensure a better neurologic outcome. Babies are cooled to 34 C for a period of 72 hours and then gradually warmed.  This is done using a cooling blanket which is wrapped around the baby. The temperature of the fluid that is circulating in the blanket is servo-controlled to ensure that the baby's temperature remains between 33.5 and 34 C. This treatment is currently being used for term babies with good results

7. Parental Involvement Technologies

Several technologies have been created in recent years to promote parental engagement in neonatal care and to calm the parent’s minds. Parents are given resources to be informed, active, and supported during their child's stay in the NICU these days. Additionally, skin-to-skin contact, also known as Kangaroo care, is being established using specifically designed wraps and clothing that give parents the necessary support while they hold their babies who are under treatment. 

Some Conventional Instruments are Still in Use

Apart from the new technologies, some of the conventional instruments that are still in use include.

Final Remarks  

Parents are often terrified when their newborn babies are not fully physically well and are under medical care. However, in recent years, with NICU equipment innovations, the treatment process of newborns has greatly improved! The entire neonatal medical field for the treatment of babies, particularly those born prematurely or with serious problems, has been drastically changed by the developments in neonatal technology. In all likelihood, as technology develops further, it will become more widely available, and that will guarantee all newborns receive the best care possible.

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