Hugsy: Simulating Kangaroo Mother Care for Neonates

A Multifunctional Blanket Designed by The Hugsy Team

Hugsy is a unique and multifunctional swaddling blanket that has been specifically developed for neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The design team, known as The Hugsy Team, was inspired by a proposal from a PhD student specializing in the field of neonatal care. The goal was to create a product that could artificially simulate Kangaroo Mother Care, a technique that has been proven to have numerous benefits for premature infants.

What sets Hugsy apart from other swaddling blankets is its ability to simulate and facilitate KMC. The blanket is designed to reduce pain and stress in premature infants, encourage healthier development, and improve mother and child bonding. Hugsy achieves this by incorporating optimal positioning techniques, playback of the mother's heartbeat, and capturing the mother's scent in the blanket.

The Hugsy blanket is made from a sheet of polyester cotton blend batting encased in a cotton polyester blend jogging fabric. It also features a support strap made from lycra and weighted positioning bags filled with polyethylene beads. The electronics of Hugsy include an Arduino FX soundboard, an Arduino Mini Pro, an amplifier, a speaker, and a pulse sensor. The electronics are safely enclosed in a 3D printed casing using laser sintering technology, along with a vacuum-formed outer shell.

One of the key features of Hugsy is its ease of use. The wires from the baby are securely attached to the loops on the blanket, and the baby is then swaddled in Hugsy. During a KMC session, the swaddled baby is transferred from the incubator to the mother's chest, with Hugsy securely fastened around the mother with straps. The mother's heartbeat is recorded during the session using a heartbeat recording and playback module, providing a comforting and familiar sound for the baby. After the session, the baby is swaddled again and placed back in the incubator, with the speaker placed into the Hugsy pocket for the baby to continue listening to the mother's heartbeat.

The Hugsy project started in September 2015 at the Technical University in Eindhoven and was completed in January 2016. It was exhibited at the Innovation for Health Design Expo in Rotterdam in February 2016. Throughout the design process, extensive research was conducted, including literature reviews, user testing with experts in the field, and the exploration of various ideation methods.

Hugsy has received recognition for its innovative design and practicality. In 2016, it was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Baby, Kids, and Children's Products Design category. This award is given to designs that meet professional and industrial requirements, integrating industry best practices and competent technical characteristics.

With its unique ability to simulate and facilitate Kangaroo Mother Care, Hugsy is revolutionizing the care provided to premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. By reducing stress, promoting healthier development, and enhancing bonding between mother and child, Hugsy is making a significant impact on the well-being of these vulnerable babies.