A new method of infant monitoring: for use at home and hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To test a New Zealand originated, designed and funded remote infant heart rate monitor in the home and hospital settings (temporarily named the King Monitor) for accuracy and reliability.


METHODS
The units were pretested using ECG simulators and on infants already being monitored in the neonatal unit. Longer term trials on hospital infants and infants being simultaneously monitored at home were then conducted.


RESULTS
Interference and electrode problems were corrected during the pretesting phase. The unit worked accurately when compared with the standard neonatal heart and respiratory rate monitor in hospital and appeared in some infants to give earlier warning of problems than the standard home apnoea monitor.


CONCLUSIONS
This simple to use monitor worked reliably and accurately under a wide variety of settings and with varying sized infants. In addition, the lack of direct connection between the infant and the control unit allowed freedom of movement of normal infants around the cot or bassinet. The monitor will require to be adapted for portable use at home and during travel.
Richardson
V F
VF
Wellington School of Medicine.
King
A S
AS
D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D010500:Perinatology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*