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Updated: Nov 11, 2025
Construction of a Wireless-Enabled Endoscopically Implantable Sensor for pH Monitoring with Zero-Bias Schottky Diode-based Receiver
Published on: August 27, 2021
Use of a non-invasive accelerometric method for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in premature infants
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA. gewolb@msu.edu.
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of a non-invasive accelerometric device to diagnose GER in preterm babies.
Study Design:
An accelerometer was taped over the sub-xiphoid process in 110 preterm (GA 29.6 ± 3.3 wk) infants (133 studies). Low frequency, sub-audible signals were captured via digital recording (sampling rate 200 Hz), then re-sampled (rate = 60 Hz) to create a spectrogram (focused range 0-30 Hz). Mean amplitude in the focused range was calculated.
Results:
Of 85 studies with simultaneous pH-metry and accelerometry, 18 had concurrent positive and 23 had concurrent negative scores, 42 had negative pH scores when accelerometry was positive (≥1 µV), consistent with non-acid reflux. Eleven infants at high risk of aspiration received surgical interventions. All but 1 had negative pH scores while 10/11 had positive accelerometry.
Conclusions:
The non-invasiveness of this accelerometric technique allows for GER screening and for repeated testing to assess efficacy of interventions.
