Foot Vibrotactile Device for Central Apnea Interruption in Premature Infants.

A portable design of a vibrotactile device for central apnea interruption in premature infants is developed. This small non-invasive device provides tactile stimulus on the infant's foot, stimulating the nervous system to help reinitiate breathing. The system consists of the vibrotactile device and a user interface which controls the activation of the vibrotactile unit based on the infant's physiological signals. Based on the preliminary results, the system provides adequate stimulation. Further testing will be conducted to ensure the system safety and effectiveness before clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]