Jumpsuit uses motion detectors to monitor the neurological development of babies
One of the best ways to monitor a baby’s neurological development is to observe his or her movements while playing. The new “smart” coverall is designed to do so automatically, and it constantly provides accurate information using machine learning technology.
Developed and research – based by the research team of the Helsinki Children ‘s Hospital described for the first time in 2020 – The Onesie garment is known as MAIJU, which comes from the words “Motor Assessment of Infants with a Jumpsuit”. It contains several detachable IMUs (inertial units, aka motion sensors) located in the pockets of each limb.
The researchers thus started with a total of 59 babies aged 5 to 19 months wearing overalls during spontaneous play classes, either at home or in a ‘home-like environment’ at the research center. As the babies played, their movements were recorded with both sensors and a video camera.
The machine learning algorithm was then used to adapt certain functions of the video material to certain motion patterns recorded by the sensor. As a result, MAIJU sensors alone – without the help of a camera – were later able to accurately identify five different positions and four different movements within these positions, as well as several intermediate positions and movements.
It is now hoped that, following the further development of MAIJU technology, it would be possible to ensure that the neurological development of infants progresses normally and how interventional therapy works when needed.
The overalls should be able to observe babies for much longer than human caregivers, and without the observer’s prejudices. In addition, it could be used in infant homes – where they are more likely to move naturally – unlike in foreign clinical settings.
And the technology isn’t necessarily limited to baby use.
“Our methods can be automated and scaled to a very wide range of applications,” says the director of Helsinki Children’s Hospital BABA, prof. Sampsa Old House. [BAby Brain Activity] Center. “It’s also possible that our technology can be adapted to develop wearable solutions to help other patient groups, such as older children or even the elderly.”
An article on the study was recently published in a journal Communication medicine.
Source: university of Helsinki through EurekAlert