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2w ago

Wireless Wearable Tracks Breast Milk Intake with Clinical Precision

Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the device uses bioelectrical impedance to provide real-time insights into milk transfer, with promising applications for NICU care.

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Overview

  • A new wearable device developed by Northwestern University provides continuous, clinical-grade monitoring of breast milk intake during breastfeeding in real time.
  • The device uses bioelectrical impedance to measure subtle shifts in breast tissue electrical properties as milk flows, offering accurate milk transfer data.
  • Clinical trials with twelve mothers over seventeen weeks showed strong correlation between the device's measurements and gold-standard infant weighing methods.
  • The soft, wireless wearable features skin-adhering electrodes and a silicone-encased base station with Bluetooth and memory for seamless data transmission to mobile devices.
  • Researchers aim to expand the device's capabilities to monitor milk production trends and quality, with potential integration into breastfeeding bras and NICU applications.