Gentle Sleep Tests: Innovative Trial

A new wireless device that could help in the diagnosis of respiratory and sleep conditions in babies and young children is being trialled for the first time with patients.

The research infrastructure underpinning the study has been supported by Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, with the support of Paediatric Respiratory Senior Research Nurse Hazel McPhail (pictured).

The Paediatric Advanced Respiratory Service (PARS) has been developed by the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, which is hosted by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, in partnership with digital therapeutics company PneumoWave.

It combines wireless wearable biosensors with mobile app-based software to give real-time analysis of infants’ breathing when they are asleep. 

The technology is attached using an adhesive pad and tailored specifically for children, as many existing in-hospital devices are invasive and therefore poorly tolerated by babies and toddlers. 

It will also be used to monitor babies in the Royal Hospital for Children’s Neonatal Unit in Glasgow who are at risk of central apnea. 

Currently available for research use only, development of the technology in the PARS project has the potential to improve remote monitoring and diagnostic accuracy in conditions such as sleep disordered breathing, paediatric respiratory disease and acute neonatal compromise.

It is hoped that it will improve patient outcomes and experience, while also adding capacity to clinical services. 

CEO Kirsten Watson said: "We are delighted that our long-term investment in respiratory research has enabled this exciting new development. It is crucial that we continue to innovate with minimally invasive technology designed specifically for our most vulnerable babies and children. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Reid-Timoney Charitable Foundation for their generous support of our three-year respiratory research strategy."