Case Study
Wireless, multi-parameter newborn monitoring system for optimal resuscitation at birth
EARLY LIFE
Improving high-risk care for newborns in the delivery room to reduce intensive care, lengths of stay, and long-term complications
Unmet Need
Delivering high-quality neonatal care in the first few minutes after birth requires complex, accurate monitoring of vital signs. A global survey of leading paediatric and neonatal resuscitation experts highlighted the need to develop technologies for the delivery room in order to improve healthcare delivery outcomes and neonatal survival in intensive care settings.
Solution
This project aimed to design and test a wireless device, NeoPatch, that monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and temperature all in one device that is placed on the newborns’ chest immediately after delivery. This solution saves time by avoiding the application of different pieces of monitoring equipment separately and removes the risk of trailing cables, enabling clinicians to efficiently deliver life-saving care in those crucial early moments of life.
Support Provided by the HRC
Professor Don Sharkey, Clinical Lead for our Early Life Theme and Professor of Neonatal Medicine and Technologies at the University of Nottingham, led on the development and evaluation of the device.
This project was developed in collaboration with an industry partner specialising in neonatal technology, SurePulse, where Professor Sharkey acts as Clinical Director.
FUNDED PROOF OF CONCEPT WORK
FACILITATED INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Progress
FROM
TRL STAGE 3
TO
TRL STAGE 6
Outcomes & Impact
AWARD-WINNING CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP
The academia-industry partnership between SurePulse and the University of Nottingham won the ‘Highly Commended’ Medilink UK MedTech Award for ‘Partnership between Academia and Business’ in June 2022 and 2025 Medilink UK National Award in the Partnership Between Business and Academia.
CLINICAL EVALUATION
Following proof of concept work funded by the Medical Research Council and NIHR HRC PCH (NIHR CYP MedTech at the time), Prof Don Sharkey, and his team were awarded £1.02 million NIHR i4i funding to develop and validate the technology.
A MeTAP-funded clinical simulation study delivered via the West of Scotland Innovation Hub demonstrated significant benefits of the device including up to 87% reduction in time taken to apply compared to existing equipment, and clinician feedback highlighted improved ability to support delayed cord clamping and enhanced facilitation of early skin-to-skin care.
An NIHR-funded clinical trial of “VS Patch” at the Centre for Perinatal Research (CePR) within the University of Nottingham ended in January 2026 and was awarded a further £30k industry funding for final elements of work.
PATIENT INCLUSION
This project has supported ongoing parent and end-user input throughout, which has been a continuous thread during device development. Parents have already identified the need for a wireless newborn monitoring system that is safe and allows for delivery room cuddles and parent/baby skin-to-skin bonding (kangaroo care). PPI groups helped shape funding applications and will be active partners throughout the project, involved with all aspects of design, clinical evaluation, and dissemination.
ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL STRATEGIES
This innovation is aligned to several national healthcare strategies including the James Lind Alliance preterm birth top 10, NHS Long Term Plan and the Better Births initiative to half neonatal deaths and brain injury, and importantly, the top priorities of leading newborn resuscitation clinicians.
PUBLICATION & DISSEMINATION
Professor Don Sharkey, Clinical Lead for our Early Life Theme, published a research paper in Early Human Development following the success of the project.
This innovation has been showcased at numerous conferences and events across the world including the European Academy of Paediatric Societies meeting in Vienna in 2024, the Annual Neonatal Conference in 2025, and the 17th Dresden Symposium in March 2026.
Partners
