Bumpe ECO: A bio-derived wearable smart garment to prevent stillbirth

在英国，死产大约影响到每244名新生儿中的1名。胎儿可能会表现出妥协的迹象，作为死产前应激反应的一部分，一个关键指标是胎儿运动的减少。妥协的迹象往往只发生在胎儿死亡前几个小时或最好的几天，所以它很可能被当前的监测实践错过，其间歇地进行并且通常需要怀孕的母亲警惕经历运动减少并且积极地寻求专业人员已经有充分的文献证明，准确和早期识别胎动减少（RFM）以及进行早期临床干预的能力可以预防死产。胎动在产前监测中起着重要作用，但目前明显缺乏有效的技术，无法在临床环境中客观地利用这一重要的健康标志。目前，识别RFM的负担落在了必须去急症室的孕妇身上，在那里进行初步检查，如果没有发现异常，患者出院并被建议继续监测运动。很明显，需要通过非侵入式可穿戴解决方案来提供RFM的客观测量，并让准妈妈放心。Radical Fibres（RF）和KYMIRA开发了一种可穿戴胎动监测设备BUMPE，内置多传感器系统，可24小时连续监测胎儿。然而，该产品在开发过程中遇到了严重的停滞：所使用的活性纳米纤维传感器材料聚偏二氟乙烯（PVDF）受到威胁，因为它是由永久化学品（PFAS;多氟烷基物质）制造的。这些人造化学物质在我们的身体和环境中积累，它们不会分解。因此，他们正在逐步淘汰和禁止。这个创新英国可行性赠款将支持RF和KYMIRA移动BUMPE从这些化学品到生物衍生的替代品。我们技术的持续成功依赖于使用合适的生物衍生材料和可持续的生命周期进行再开发。这是一项重大的技术挑战，因为替代材料需要具有可比的性能。在医院外使用可穿戴式胎动监测设备是一项创新实践，将彻底改变为经历RFM的孕妇提供护理的方式。这是可穿戴技术在临床环境中前所未有的应用，将消除主观评估的风险并挽救生命。

Stillbirth affects approximately 1 in 244 births in the United Kingdom. Foetuses may exhibit signs of compromise as part of a stress response before stillbirth and a key indicator is a reduction in foetal movements.Signs of compromise often occur only hours or at best days before foetal death, so it is highly likely to be missed by current monitoring practices, which are performed intermittently and usually require a pregnant mother to alert of experiencing a reduction in movement and actively seek professional advice.It has been well documented that accurate and early identification of reduced foetal movements (RFM) and the ability to perform early clinical intervention may prevent stillbirth. Foetal movements have an important role in antenatal surveillance, but currently, there is a distinct lack of effective technology to objectively utilise this important marker of well-being in the clinical setting.Currently, the burden of identifying RFM is on the expecting mother who has to attend A&E, where an initial check is carried out and if no abnormalities are found, the patient is discharged and advised to continue to monitor movements. There is clearly a need to provide an objective measurement of RFM and reassurance to expecting mothers through a non-invasive wearable solution.Radical Fibres (RF) and KYMIRA have developed a wearable foetal movement monitoring device, BUMPE, embedded with a multi-sensor system that monitors 24-hour continuous foetal monitoring.However, the product has hit a critical standstill in its development: the active nanofibre sensor material used, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), is under threat because it is manufactured from a forever-chemical (PFAS; polyfluorinated alkyl substances). These man-made chemicals build up in our bodies and environment, they do not break down. As a result, they are being phased out and banned.This Innovate UK feasibility grant will support RF and KYMIRA to move BUMPE away from these chemicals to bio-derived alternatives. The continued success of our technology relies on redeveloping it using a suitable bio-derived material and with a sustainable lifecycle. This is a significant technological challenge, as the replacement material is required to have comparable properties.Using a wearable monitoring device for foetal movement outside of a hospital is an innovative practice that will revolutionise the way care is delivered to pregnant women who experience RFM. This is an unprecedented use of wearable technology in a clinical setting, that will remove the risk of subjective assessment and save lives.