GlobalNeoNat project

A combined neonatal hypothermia and phototherapy system, affordable and adapted to the context of resource-poor countries.

Global neonatal disability/mortality: Hypothermia

— Each year, more than10 million children under the age of five years die.

— 40-45% of this mortality occurs during the neonatal period.

— For developing countries the three main killers are prematurity, infection and asphyxia.

— Death in premature infants does not occur from prematurity itself but insufficiency of vital organs. Death in premature and low birth weight infants is closely related to hypothermia.

Global neonatal disability/mortality: Neonatal Jaundice

— Besides the risk of death, many newborns have a significant risk of severe neurological handicap due neonatal jaundice (billirubin kernicterus).

— Jaundice appears to be one of the three main causes of cerebral palsy in developing countries.

Project goal:

— Entirely develop an appropriate neonatal hypothermia and phototherapy system.

Technology constraints:

— Ultra-Affordable:
total cost of ownership <$600 (over 10 years lifecycle).

— Adapted to local conditions:
unreliable mains, high temperature and humidity, no maintenance, no consumables, rough environmental conditions, low level of skills…

— More than 10 years of effective useful life.

Core technology building blocks:

— Heating system with reliable and ultra robust temperature control
Challenge: temperature control is usually done with fragile and expensive thermal probes. In developing countries, these probes are generally unavailable.

— Phototherapy unit
Challenge: blue light (450nm) fluorescent tubes are not durable enough and are expensive and hard to obtain in rural hospitals. A low cost, ultra-durable and uniform illumination system is required.

— Power supply
Challenge: reliable in spite of unstable and harmful electrical supply. Usable with diverse, locally available power sources.