Research conducted on Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) at the University of Sheffield led to the development of a new medical device that enhances the accuracy of pre-term birth (PTB) diagnosis.
The technology will be brought to market by a UK-based company, EveryBaby backed by South Korean Investment and assist in reducing the number of complications and deaths associated with PTB.
The World Health Organization stated that 15 million babies are born pre-term annually, with PTB-associated complications being a major cause of under five years of age infant deaths and the cause of 1 million deaths in 2015. Long-term complications are devastating, and a lot of survivors encounter a lifetime disability which includes disabilities as well as hearing and visual impairments.
Current methods of assessing the likelihood of pre-term birth, such as transvaginal ultrasound, are expensive and have limited accuracy.
The EveryBaby solution diagnoses preterm birth with high accuracy in an affordable portable and handheld device giving it the huge ability to export to countries with low income who are most affected by lack of scalable and cost-efficient solutions. The device provides early information about the risk of PTB between the 18th and 20th week of pregnancy which is a vital stage for physicians to have the ability to address PTB-related complications.
EverBaby makes use of technology that involves a method of impedance spectroscopy to detect changes in the structure and composition of cervical tissue when a mother is close to birth. A study on 449 pregnant women shows that EIS diagnosis predicts spontaneous PTB.
Dabriel Choi, CEO, EveryBaby, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Sheffield to commercialize this exciting technology and bring much-needed innovation to the healthcare market. Sheffield is a leader in health research and we’re proud to play a part in transforming research in the lab into a tangible product to improve patient outcomes.”
professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Sheffield and consultant at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trusts, Dilly O’Anumba, added: “More than one in 10 babies are born too early and data has shown that in many parts of the world preterm birth rates are increasing.
This pioneering technique will assist healthcare professionals to enhance the prevention and management of preterm birth. The method is more accurate and cost-effective to access than the current methods specifically in communities with low income where the rate of pre-term birth is high.
“EveryBaby’s eventual commercialization of this technology could help to save countless lives both in the UK and across the globe.”
