New York: Worries about changing the baby’s diaper at the right time may soon become a thing of the past for many parents as Indian-origin researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a “smart” version of the product that can alert a caregiver when it is wet.
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This smart diaper is embedded with a moisture sensor that detects dampness and sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which in turn can send a notification to a smartphone or computer, according to a study published in the journal IEEE Sensors.
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The sensor could also be integrated into adult diapers, for patients who might be unaware or too embarrassed to report themselves that a change is needed, according to Pankhuri Sen, a research assistant in MIT’s AutoID Laboratory.
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“Diapers are used not just for babies, but for ageing populations, or patients who are bedridden and unable to take care of themselves,” Sen said.
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“It would be convenient in these cases for a caregiver to be notified that a patient, particularly in a multibed hospital, needs changing,” she added.
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If worn too long, a wet diaper can cause painful rashes.
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“This (smart diaper) could prevent rashes and some infections like urinary tract infections, in both ageing and infant populations,” added research collaborator Sai Nithin R. Kantareddy, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
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The sensor in the diaper consists of a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, that is placed below a layer of super absorbent polymer, a type of hydrogel that is typically used in diapers to soak up moisture.
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When the hydrogel is wet, the material expands and becomes slightly conductive — enough to trigger the RFID tag to send a radio signal to an RFID reader up to one metre away.
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The researchers estimate that the sensor costs less than 2 cents to manufacture, making it a low-cost, disposable alternative to other smart diaper technology.
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Over time, smart diapers may help record and identify certain health problems, such as signs of constipation or incontinence.
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A typical RFID tag has two elements: an antenna for backscattering radio frequency signals, and an RFID chip that stores the tag’s information, such as the specific product that the tag is affixed to.
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RFID tags don’t require batteries; they receive energy in the form of radio waves emitted by an RFID reader.
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When an RFID tag picks up this energy, its antenna activates the RFID chip, which tweaks the radio waves and sends a signal back to the reader, with its information encoded within the waves.
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This is how, for instance, products labelled with RFID tags can be identified and tracked.
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The new sensor may be especially useful for nurses working in neonatal units and caring for multiple babies at a time.
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