Table 1.
The main physiological vital signs and parameters monitored during neonatal intensive care, with relative sensing principles and transducers.
| Parameter or Vital Sign | Sensing Principles | Transducers |
|---|---|---|
| ECG, EEG | Electrical, bio-potential | Skin metal electrodes, textile electrodes [19] |
|
| ||
| Heart rate, Pulse | Optical, pressure | Photodetector, force sensitive resistor [20] |
|
| ||
| Invasive Blood Pressure | Auscultatory | Pneumatic cuff & microphone |
|
| ||
| Temperature | Electrical, resistance | Thermistor |
| Electrical, thermoelectric | Thermocouple | |
| Optical, IR emission | IR pyroelectric detector | |
| Optical, fluorescence | Photodetector | |
|
| ||
| Respiration | Mechanical, expansion | Strain gauge |
| Electrical, impedance | Skin electrodes | |
|
| ||
| SpO2 | Optical, absorption | Photodetector & emitters (red and IR) |
|
| ||
| PO2 | Optical, fluorescent | Photomultiplier tube |
| Electrochemical, amperometric | Clark oxygen electrode | |
|
| ||
| PCO2 | Optical, fluorescent | Photomultiplier tube |
| Electrochemical, potentiometric | Ion-sensitive electrode | |
|
| ||
| Glucose | Optical, colorimetric | Photodetector |
| Electrochemical, amperometric | Enzyme modified biosensor | |
|
| ||
| Lactate | Optical, colorimetric | Photodetector |
| Electrochemical, amperometric | Enzyme modified biosensor | |
|
| ||
| Bilirubin | Optical, colorimetric | Photodetector |
|
| ||
| Urea | Optical, colorimetric | Photodetector |
| Electrolytes:- | Optical, colorimetric | Photodetector |
|
| ||
| Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl− | Electrochemical, potentiometric | Ion-selective electrode (ISE) |
|
| ||
| pH | Optical, colorimetric | Photodetector |
| Electrochemical, potentiometric | Ion-sensitive electrode | |
|
| ||
| Haematocrit | Optical, reflectometric | Photodetector |
| Electrical, impedance | Aperture-tube electrode | |
|
| ||
| Haemoglobin | Optical, absorption | Photodetector and emitters |