New resuscitation invention

Dr Santorino Data, a paediatrician based at Mbarara University, in Uganda, has invented a new device which it is hoped could help save millions of lives. The Augmented Infant Resuscitator, or Air for short, is an attachment to the current equipment used for resuscitating infants at birth and gives the users instant feedback about how effectively the resuscitation attempt is working.  The screen remains green when there are no problems and air is flowing effectively but will change to red to warn of any air leaks.

It is thought that each year close to a million newborns die because they struggle to breathe.  Most of these deaths occur in developing countries where resuscitation machines are very expensive, but this new invention should only cost about $20-25 a piece.

Although it was initially designed for use in the developing world, it is now also hoped that it might be used worldwide and in various settings.  The project is being developed in partnership with a team from Massachusetts’ general hospital in the US who are helping to refine technical aspects of the device.

Dr Kris Olson, who leads the team in Boston that’s working on the design, says: “We’ve learnt that 20% of providers, right after training in newborn resuscitation, give ventilations incorrectly. And Air can help with that.”

For more information watch a report from the BBC here 

Image used taken from BBC article, see link above.