2025-05-14 ノースウェスタン大学
◆この技術は、特に新生児集中治療室(NICU)での早産児や医療的に脆弱な乳児の栄養管理に有用であり、母親の不安軽減や授乳支援に寄与します。デバイスは、理論的モデリング、実験室での試験、病院での新生児を持つ母親12人への臨床試験を経て、精度と実用性が確認されました。将来的には、授乳ブラへの統合や母乳の成分分析機能の追加も検討されています。
<関連情報>
- https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/05/got-data-breastfeeding-device-measures-babies-milk-intake-in-real-time/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01393-w
授乳中に分泌される母乳の連続モニタリングが可能なコンパクトなワイヤレスシステム A compact, wireless system for continuous monitoring of breast milk expressed during breastfeeding
Jihye Kim,Seyong Oh,Raudel Avila,Hee-Sup Shin,Matthew Banet,Jennifer Wicks,Anthony R. Banks,Yonggang Huang,Jae-Young Yoo,Daniel T. Robinson,Craig F. Garfield & John A. Rogers
Nature Biomedical Engineering Published:14 May 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-025-01393-w
Abstract
Human milk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants. Most health organizations recommend direct breastfeeding from the first hour of life, extending throughout the first and second year. However, uncertainties regarding the volumes of milk ingested by the infant contribute to suboptimal rates of breastfeeding. Here we introduce a compact and unobtrusive device that gently interfaces to the breast via four electrodes and accurately measures expressed milk volume during breastfeeding through changes in the alternating current impedance. The data pass wirelessly to a smartphone continuously throughout each breastfeeding session for real-time graphical display. Comprehensive experimental and computational results establish the operating principles and guide engineering choices for optimized performance. Evaluations with 12 breastfeeding mothers over periods of as long as 17 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit and in home settings illustrate the practical utility of this technology in addressing a critically important unmet need in maternal and neonatal care.
