Design and clinical testing of a control system and event prediction system for premature babies in the NICU.

Abstract

The presented work is a thesis used as evidence towards defending a master's degree in the department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The project presented centers around automating the control of oxygen delivery for premature babies in the NICU. Background on this topic is given including a comprehensive literature review of work done at the University of Missouri, Columbia and elsewhere. Motivations, goals, and objectives are discussed. The design, testing, and implementation of an automatic oxygen control device are presented as part of an IRB-approved clinical study. Data is analyzed from a statistical and controls-focused point of view. A related project about predicting acute events in premature babies is discussed. Details of the design, testing, and clinical results are given. Suggestions for future work are made. Expected challenges and lessons learned during the process are explored.