ApneBootPeer-Reviewed PublicationPilot Study
Efficacy of a Novel Device to Detect, Alert and Resolve Neonatal Apnea: Pilot Study
Year
2019
Location
🇮🇳 Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Sample Size
31 preterm newborns
Investigators
Swapna Lingaldinna, Himabindu Singh, Mona Sharma
Institutions
Niloufer Hospital for Women and Children, Hyderabad, Telangana · BEMPU Health, Bangalore, Karnataka
Published In
Innovative Journal of Medical and Health Science
Background & Methods
A pilot study at Niloufer Hospital for Women and Children, Hyderabad, to evaluate the efficacy of the ApneBoot device for detecting, alerting, and automatically resolving neonatal apnea in preterm infants. 31 preterm newborns admitted to the NICU were enrolled and monitored using the ApneBoot system, which combines pulse oximetry monitoring with a vibrating boot for tactile stimulation of the foot.
Key Results
| Outcome / Metric | BEMPU Group | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Predictive Value (PPV) for bradycardia/desaturation events | 94.03% | — |
| B&D events confirmed as true apneas | 83.6% | — |
| Apnea auto-resolution efficacy (via tactile stimulation) | 70% | — |
- 1The ApneBoot device achieved a PPV of 94.03% for bradycardia and desaturation (B&D) events.
- 283.6% of detected B&D events were confirmed as true apneas.
- 3Tactile stimulation via the vibrating boot achieved 70% auto-resolution of apnea episodes — reducing the need for nurse intervention.
- 4The device was well tolerated by preterm infants; no adverse events related to vibration stimulation were observed.
Why This Matters
Apnea of prematurity is one of the most dangerous conditions for NICU infants, and nurse response time is critical. This pilot study demonstrates that the ApneBoot can automatically resolve 70% of apnea events without requiring any nurse interaction — a potentially life-saving capability during night shifts when nurse-to-patient ratios are highest.
How to Cite
Lingaldinna S, Singh H, Sharma M. Efficacy of a novel device to detect, alert and resolve neonatal apnea: pilot study. Innovative Journal of Medical and Health Science. 2019.