Apnea Detection in newborns using abdominal IMU

Over recent years, there has been an increase in cases of sudden postnatal collapse in apparently healthy newborns within the first 24 hours of life. Current monitoring systems struggle to identify episodes of apnea. This study proposes a solution: an electronic device designed to monitor abdominal movements associated with breathing in newborns, complemented by a user interface for information tracking. Experimental tests were conducted to validate the system's performance in various scenarios, including supine and prone positions, as well as during mother-infant contact. Overall, the results indicate that employing direct contact electronic devices shows promise in enhancing respiration detection and identifying apnea situations.