Wearable Optical Device for Real-Time Monitoring of Newborn Jaundice

A wearable optical device for real-time monitoring of newborn jaundice was developed (Fig. 1). Jaundice is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in an infant's blood. Real-time monitoring of the bilirubin level in infants is required because the level can change rapidly and affect their growth. The ability of the newly developed sensor to measure bilirubin levels was comparable to that of a commercial jaundice device ( R=0.77), indicating the sensor could successfully evaluate jaundice. This wearable sensor is an important advance in the healthcare of infants, as it provides real-time monitoring of jaundice, one of the most important medical parameters in preliminary medical screening tests for newborns.