Detection of acute ventilatory problems via magnetic induction in a newborn animal model

BACKGROUND: Magnetic induction measurement (MIM) is a noninvasive method for the contactless registration of respiration in newborn piglets by using measurement coils positioned at the bottom of an incubator. Acute pulmonary problems may be determinants of poor neurological and psychomotor outcomes in preterm infants. The current study tested the detection of pulmonary ventilation disorders via MIM in 11 newborn piglets. METHODS: Six measurement coils determined changes in magnetic induction, depending on the ventilation of the lung, in comparison with flow resistance. Contactless registration of induced acute pulmonary ventilation disorders (apnea, atelectasis, pneumothorax, and aspiration) was detected by MIM. RESULTS: All pathologies except aspiration were detected by MIM. Significant changes occurred after induction of apnea (three coils), malposition of the tube (one coil), and pneumothorax (three coils) (p ≤ 0.05). No significant changes occurred after induction of aspiration (p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: MIM seems to have some potential to detect acute ventilation disorders in newborn piglets. The location of the measurement coil related to the animal’s position plays a critical role in this process. In addition to an early detection of acute pulmonary problems, potential information pointing to a therapeutic intervention, for example, inhalations or medical respiratory analepsis, may be conceivable with MIM in the future. IMPACT: MIM seems to be a method in which noncontact ventilation disorders of premature and mature infants can be detected. This study is an extension of the experimental setup to obtain preliminary evidence for detection of respiratory activity in neonatal piglets. For the first time, MIM is used to register acute ventilation problems of neonates. The possibility of an early detection of acute ventilation problems via MIM may provide an opportunity to receive patient-side information for therapeutical interventions like inhalations or medical respiratory analepsis.