In the Neonatology Department at Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, work is underway on a robot that can largely automate the preparation of breast milk for premature and seriously ill babies. The technology is set to save nurses hours of work every day, freeing up more time for direct patient care. In addition, the robot reduces the risk of errors.
In a neonatal intensive care unit, everything revolves around precision: the patients include extremely premature babies, some of whom weigh less than 500 grams. They are entirely dependent on precisely formulated breast milk, small amounts of which are often administered several times a day via a feeding tube. This process is labour-intensive and takes up a great deal of time each day for specialist nurses.
Shortage of specialist staff
Like many other healthcare departments, the neonatal unit faces a severe shortage of specialist staff. It is therefore essential to make efficient use of available staff. Automating time-consuming tasks helps to achieve this.
The robot is being developed by the Delft-based start-up Neollie. The modular robotic system can automatically measure out, fortify, mix, dispense and prepare breast milk for administration to babies in neonatal and intensive care units.
Neollie emphasises that the robot supports nurses. The robot only takes over the logistical and technical aspects of milk preparation. The care of the baby remains entirely in the hands of healthcare professionals.
NEOPERFECT
The development is taking place as part of the NEOPERFECT project, which brings together medical expertise, robotics and user research. In addition to Erasmus MC and Neollie, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam and RoboHouse are also involved. Doctors and nurses are contributing their experience in medical practice and their knowledge of safety and hygiene requirements. Robotics experts, in turn, are developing the technology, whilst social scientists are investigating how healthcare professionals and parents experience the new technology.
Technically complex
Automating the preparation of breast milk is technically complex. For example, the robot must not only measure out breast milk with great precision, but also open and close bottles, add nutritional supplements in small quantities, mix the contents of the bottle and fill syringes. In addition, the robot must store the formula in a cool place and then serve it at the correct temperature. The reliability, hygiene and reproducibility of the process are crucial in this regard.
The robot will have a transparent design. This will enable nurses to see what is happening throughout the preparation process at all times. In addition, the system is being designed to operate quietly, so as not to disturb the peace and quiet on the wards.
Reducing the risk of errors
Reducing the risk of human error is a key objective of the system. For example, the current procedure involves several handover points before the feed finally reaches the baby. Every additional step increases the risk of errors, for example when measuring out supplements. By automating this process, the parties involved aim to eliminate these errors and thereby improve the accuracy of the process.
In addition, the quality of the breast milk should be better preserved. Less manual handling also means fewer temperature fluctuations and fewer separate warming cycles.
25 to 30 patients at a time
Development has now reached the third prototype. The latest version can prepare feeds for several patients at the same time and mix the feeds with great precision. Nurses receive a notification as soon as a feed is ready, after which they can administer it immediately. Ultimately, the system should be able to prepare feeds for 25 to 30 patients in a ward simultaneously.
The coming years will be devoted to further development, validation and extensive safety testing. If this process goes according to plan, the robot should be ready for use in neonatal units by the end of this decade.
