The design and development of a biosensor to measure the concentration of meconium in amniotic fluid.
Meconium aspiration syndrome occurs in 0.2% to 1% of all deliveries and has a mortality rate as high as 18%. The disease is responsible for 2% of all perinatal deaths. Meconium may be classified as being thick or thin, but this assessment is normally performed visually by clinicians. A "meconiumcrit" analysis has been developed to objectively define the concentration of meconium. However, this analysis does not provide real-time continuous readings. This study focused on the design and development of a sensor to provide an objective, continuous, real-time assessment of meconium thickness. Meconium has an absorption spectrum centered at 410 nm and observes Beer's law. Blue light centered at 430 nm was delivered through meconium solutions, and a photodiode translated the strength of the incoming light into a voltage. This voltage was analyzed by a microcontroller to determine the concentration of meconium.
Raytheon Systems Company, El Segundo, CA, USA.
J Y
JY
Oh
E
E
Rosow
J
J
Bronzino
J
J
Enderle
L
L
Eisenfeld
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002138:Calibration; D004867:Equipment Design; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012985:Software Design