Transistorised Babies

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30497, 20 July 1964, Page 2

Transistorised Babies

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter)

BALTIMORE Premature babies in incubators at the new children’s centre of the John Hopkins Hospital here have tiny transistors attached to their armpits. When abnormalities in temperature or pulse rate are detected, electronic signals are flashed to a central monitoring system, alerting nurses in charge. The central control panel keeps a check on all premature babies simultaneously all the time, instead of the routine individual four-hourly readings standard in other hospitals. A much more systematic record of fluctuations

for each baby Is thus possible, and nurses are free to spend more time on such vital tasks as feeding. The electric monitor, similar to space capsule equipment for checking the physical condition of astronauts, has not been developed commercially. But hospital engineers, supervised by Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, a premature baby expert, are continuing their experiments with the device. This “space age” advance is one of many innovations provided in the new 15 million dollar (about £sm) children’s medical and surgical centre of the hospital.