CHALLENGE
According to WHO, about 15 million babies are born pre-term each year and one million
die of complications of prematurity. That number is growing.
Prematurity leads the causes of neonatal death and accounts for half of the
cases of neurological impairment in children.
Our challenge has been to explore a new way of measuring gestational age (Round 14- GCE and Round 9 - GCC). "
Access the project at Grand Challenges Explorations
and Grand Challenges Canada e no Grand Challenges Canadá
NON-INVASIVE
The fragility of the premature neonate is a decisive factor in the choices made in the development of this technology.
ACCURACY
Methods used currently manage a margin of error of about 3 weeks. Our goal is to reduce this margin significantly.
PORTABLE
Ease of handling, transportation and compatibility with the restrictive conditions of premature neonates are determinant in the development requirements of the solution.
LOW COST
The reach of technology is inversely proportional to the cost of implementation. An affordable solution has its potential social impact multiplied.
SOLUTION
Step I: The proof of concept
We found a direct and evolutionary relationship between skin response to light and gestational age.
Stage II: National Multicenter Clinical Trial
The embedded technology in a portable device was called Preemie-Test. It is under evaluation in five Brazilian hospitals, sponsored by the Ministry of Health.
Stage III: International Multicenter Clinical Trial
The Preemie-test will be used experimentally in four centers of excellence in perinatology, two in Brazil, one in Mozambique and another in Portugal. The proposal won the 9th Round of Grand Challenges Canada (2018), with co-sponsorship of Fiocruz.
Step IV: Market entry
At the end of the clinical trials, we hope to offer a new portable, safe, effective and affordable medical device to assess the gestational age of babies born with chronology of dubious or unknown pregnancy.
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Step I
Proof of concept finalized
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Step II
A clinical study on 800 babies
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Step III
A clinical study on 300 babies
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Step IV
Market entry
Team
GABRIELA LUIZA NOGUEIRA VITRAL
INGRID MICHELLE FONSECA DE SOUZA
Isaías José Ramos de Oliveira
Ivana M Norberto Dias
Juliano Gaspar
Marconi Augusto Aguiar dos Reis
Nilza Mussagy
PAOLA C. DA SILVA
REGINA AMÉLIA LOPES PESSOA DE AGUIAR
Roberta Maia de Castro Romanelli
RODNEY GUIMARÃES
Sérgio Taunde
WAGNER MAGALHÃES
ZILMA REIS
COLLABORATORS
FUNDERS
PARTNERS
Impact
Gestational age is inversely proportional to the risk of death at birth.
Lack of precision and uncertainty in the chronology of gestation raises the risk to baby's health.
NEWS
Journal FAPESP: Device reveals age of premature babies
The result of seven years of work was transformed into a product and began to be sold in October last year. Named Preemie-Test, the device, similar to a digital thermometer, about 15 centimeters long, estimates the age at birth by analyzing the maturity of the newborn’s skin. It does this by shining a beam of[…]
Jornal Minas – UFMG develops technology that helps in the identification of premature babies
One million babies die due to prematurity worldwide. And in Brazil, three hundred and forty thousand children are born, per year, with less than 37 weeks of gestation, the equivalent of SIX cases every 10 minutes. In Purple November, which reinforces prematurity prevention campaigns, we show you an unprecedented technology developed by UFMG researchers with[…]
LED device measures prematurity of babies
Equipment developed by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) can determine the prematurity of babies using LED light. The test is performed on the sole of the newborn’s foot. The equipment awaits approval from the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). Newspaper: Voz do Brasil Date: 16/11/2022 Available in: https://redenacionalderadio.ebc.com.br/programas/materias-da-voz/16-11-22-luana-karen-pesquisa-led-bebes.mp3/view
UFMG scientists create a sensor to know the age of newborns
At the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), researchers have developed equipment to help identify the baby’s age in the case of pregnancies with indeterminate duration and, thus, avoid more serious situations. Newspaper: TV Brasil Date: 18/11/2022 Available in: https://tvbrasil.ebc.com.br/node/192379
Purple November: month dedicated to prematurity awareness
It is essential to provide immediate care to a baby born before 37 weeks and knowing precisely the gestational age helps to define medical procedures. Equipment developed by the Federal University of Minas Gerais calculates the baby’s age with 94% accuracy. The information is defined by the maturity of the skin, intensified by means of[…]
O TEMPO: UFMG researchers create device with LED light to help premature babies
The test is done on the sole of the baby’s foot with a device slightly larger than a thermometer. The LED light focuses differently on newborns aged nine months and those born prematurely, and the Preemie-Test makes the calculation based on skin penetration. Newspaper: O TEMPO Date: 10/29/2022 Available in: https://www.otempo.com.br/brasil/pesquisadores-da-ufmg-criam-aparelho-com-luz-de-led-para-ajudar-prematuros-1.2758301
Folha de São Paulo – UFMG researchers create a device with LED light that helps to save premature babies
Prematurity is the leading cause of death in newborns younger than 28 days. In the world, per year, more than one million children of this group do not resist, according to the World Health Organization. To avoid this situation, researchers at a public university developed a device with LED light technology capable of more accurately[…]
Projeto Skinage é destaque em emissora de Portugual
Entrevista veiculada em 8 de abril, no programa Geração Digital, da emissora portuguesa RTP.
Pesquisa FAPESP. Entrevista: Zilma Reis
A ginecologista e obstetra Zilma Reis, professora da UFMG, comenta como funciona o Preemie, um teste que mede a idade gestacional de bebês na hora do parto, a partir da luz refletida pela pele.
PLOS ONE publica artigo do projeto Skin Age
Newborn skin reflection: Proof of concept for a new approach for predicting gestational age at birth. A cross-sectional study
Pesquisa FAPESP – A multitude of births (pt-br)
Em 2015, 40% dos bebês deixaram o útero materno antes de alcançar a maturidade biológica, em parte por causa de cesarianas eletivas
Skinage project receives prize and takes technology to various countries (pt-br)
Vencedor da chamada internacional “Stars in Global Health 2018-2019”, do Grand Challenges Canadá, Skinage será avaliado simultaneamente em Moçambique, Portugal e Brasil
Prototype published on WHO compendium of inovative health technologies for low-resource settings
Acess the website of the WHO compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings or open the page of the project directly.
TV UFMG – VT SKINAGE
Um dispositivo criado por uma equipe multidisciplinar de pesquisadores da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG será agora testado na Europa e África. O Skinage é um sensor que, por meio de luz de led refletida na pele do bebê, é capaz de aferir com máxima precisão a idade gestacional de um recém-nascido.
Projeto Skinage recebe prêmio e leva tecnologia a diferentes países
Vencedor da chamada internacional “Stars in Global Health 2018-2019”, do Grand Challenges Canadá, Skinage será avaliado simultaneamente em Moçambique, Portugal e Brasil
Jornal Minas | Pesquisadores da UFMG desenvolvem dispositivo, a baixo custo, para identificar idade gestacional
Pesquisadores da UFMG desenvolveram um dispositivo para identificar a idade gestacional de bebês. O tempo de gravidez é imprescindível para a formação do feto e para o acompanhamento médico que é feito.
Minas Faz Ciência: Quando a pele revela histórias
Equipamento calcula idade gestacional de recém-nascidos com mais precisão e ajuda a salvar bebês prematuros
Diário do Comércio | Patente detecta idade gestacional de prematuros
Pesquisadores da UFMG lançam solução inédita e recebem apoio de entidades internacionais e do governo
CN Notícias: Researchers develop device that confirms gestation time
Em Minas Gerais, pesquisadores estão desenvolvendo um aparelho que confirma o tempo de gestação de um recém-nascido. A novidade pode fazer toda a diferença no tratamento de bebês prematuros. Fonte: TV Canção Nova Publicado em 1 de dez de 2017 Reportagem de Monizy Amorim e Reinaldo Esteves
Globo – MGTV: Researchers at UFMG developed a device that confirms the time of pregnancy to treat premature infants
Um sensor em contato com a pele do bebê permite descobrir quantas semanas o recém-nascido ficou na barriga da mãe Assista ao vídeo da matéria
Globo – Jornal Hoje em Dia: Device developed by group from UFMG (Brazil) unveils newborn needs
Assista ao vídeo da matéria.
Jornal da Band: More precise device calculates gestation time
Como há uma margem de erro de até três semanas nos exames de ultrassom, essa técnica ajuda a reforçar os cuidados com bebês prematuros. Assista ao vídeo da matéria.
Skinage Group presents PreemieTest to Brazilian Ministry of Health – DECIT (2017)
Fonte: coordandores do projeto
Jornal da Record: UFMG researchers develop equipment that treats premature babies (pt-br)
Milhares de bebês morrem no mundo por problemas decorrentes do parto pré-maturo. Para facilitar o tratamento, pesquisadores da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais desenvolveram um equipamento que está em fase final de testes e em pouco tempo deve chegar aos hospitais.
Grand Challenges Exploration’s 14th Round grantee group announces New Technology for Gestational Age Determination based on the neonatal skin response to the light
Patente da Faculdade detecta idade gestacional de recém-nascido com maior precisão atual
Professora apresenta dispositivo em fórum da Organização Mundial de Saúde (pt-br)
A coordenadora do Centro de Informática em Saúde da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG, professora Zilma Reis, apresentou o projeto Newborn Skinage no 3rd WHO Global Forum on Medical Devices, fórum da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), que aconteceu este mês em Genebra, na Suíça.
Newborn Skinage Team invited to present during the 3rd Global Forum on Medical Devices
The Preemie test of the Newborn Skinage Team was invited by WHO to be presented during the 3rd Global Forum on Medical Devices, which will take place in Geneva 10-12th of May 2017. This important global meeting will discuss medical devices in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Newborn Skinage in Africa: the team was highlighted In the Xcelerator Malawi, February/2017
The new device, which detects prematurity by touching the newborn’s skin, was introduced among the most promising technologies to save lives at birth.
UFMG develops mobile application to support prenatal care
Technology information team of CINS (Health Informatics Center) developed App with the participation of students professors and is news at MGTV 1st edition this Thursday, March 2nd.
UFMG researchers develop application that helps prenatal care assistance
Initiative was supported by Fapemig, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Health Secretariat of Minas Gerais (SES-MG)
New medical device has patent application
UFMG applied a patent for the development process and the use of a new medical device that informs the gestational age of a newborn based on the optical properties of the skin.
Meu Pré-Natal app on iTunes and Google Play
The Meu Pre-Natal application was created by a team coordinated by the Health Informatics Center of the Faculty of Medicine of UFMG, Brazil.
Project of the Faculty of Medicine wins international accelerator investment
BGI Accelerator supports the Newborn Skin Age group with a technology innovation program focused on social entrepreneurship
(Com)paixão transdisciplinar – Revista Minas Faz Ciência (pt-br)
Conheça as múltiplas facetas da médica e professora Zilma Reis, que, em 2015, teve proposta de pesquisa apoiada pela Fundação Bill e Melinda Gates.
UFMG develops application to assist the prenatal care
In order to answer the main doubts of pregnant women during prenatal care, the Faculty of Medicine – UFMG planned and developed the APP “Meu Pre-Natal”
Startup para salvar bebés prematuros (pt-br)
Cerca de meio milhão de bebés prematuros nascem anualmente em todo mundo. A prematuridade lidera as causas de morte neonatal e é responsável pela metade dos casos de comprometimento neurológico em crianças.
Projeto mineiro vai usar luz de LED para avaliar prematuros (pt-br)
25Proposta recebeu US$ 100 mil da Fundação Bill & Melinda Gates; o protótipo, previsto para entrar em operação no final deste ano, ajudará a identificar de forma mais precisa a idade gestacional dos bebês
Aparelho criado por mineiros pode determinar a sobrevida de bebês prematuros (pt-br)
Cientistas mineiros premiados pela Fundação Bill & Melinda Gates trabalham em protótipo capaz de identificar, com mais eficácia que um ultrassom, o tempo de gestação de recém-nascidos usando o maior órgão do corpo