Sensors Make Newborn Health Screenings Possible
Newborn health screenings are important because they assist health professionals with the understanding and identification of potentially treatable conditions as early as possible. Some of the earliest screenings monitor the baby’s blood, hearing, and oximetry. For the 15 million babies born preterm each year, monitoring and screening is an even more vital necessity.
Sensors used in these standardized tests are checking to see if the baby responds to sounds and to measure the amount of oxygen in the skin to discover possible heart problems. Because complications and extreme dangers can occur in these premature stages of life, relying on accurate monitoring and technologies like sensors become especially critical.
Oftentimes, under these conditions continuous monitoring of various parameters is needed. Exact accuracy and the ability to send alarm information to clinicians can be the difference between life and death.
SMD Sensors has helped create solutions for clients that address specific needs in the Neonatal department at hospitals. This includes the use of load cells to provide accuracy and long life for required applications.
When one customer came to use with the challenge of accurately weighing reagent and waste bottles with their instrument, SMD provided their S220 and S230 low profile load cells. With sputtered circuits that are atomically bonded directly to the surface of the metal load cell structure with no adhesives, they are able to withstand temperature and vibrational changes. This coupled with an overload feature we designed resulted in a robust solution that met warranty specifications for the customer.