Researchers say their "swimming cap", which uses light and ultrasound to improve brain monitoring in newborns, is the first of its kind in the world. Photo Credit: Courtesy of BBC
HealthTechnology United KingdomPortable Cap to Revolutionize Treating Newborn Brain Injuries
In the United Kingdom, scientists have developed a soft, sensor-filled cap that uses light and ultrasound to monitor babies’ brains directly from their hospital cots, aiming to speed diagnosis and treatment for brain injuries.
“It’s the first time that light and ultrasound have been used together like this to give a more complete picture of the brain,” said Dr Flora Faure, researcher on the Fusion study at the Rosie Maternity Hospital in Cambridge.
Brain injury affects around five in every 1,000 newborns and is a leading cause of lifelong disability. The new device can scan infants repeatedly without moving them to noisy MRI machines, offering early detection of risks such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Supported by Cambridge University Hospitals and the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre, the team hopes the cap could reach NHS wards within five years, transforming neonatal care through gentler, more frequent monitoring.
