Engineers have developed a smart lactation pad that can quantify a wide range of chemicals in breast milk in real time. This work is pioneering the first wearable, rapid sensor for at-home measurement of chemicals in breast milk, addressing an important technology gap for improving the health of the mother and the baby.
The researchers transformed a simple lactation pad into a smart health device. They built in tiny microfluidic channels that guide the milk to a sensing area. Low-cost electrochemical sensors detect and measure important health markers in the milk. The sensor, built into the absorbent lactation pad, collects small amounts of breast milk naturally released during the let-down reflex throughout the day. It then sends real-time readings to the user’s smartphone via a compact, portable detector, using electrical pulses to measure levels of acetaminophen. With this information, users can make informed decisions — such as choosing to pump and discard milk containing medication. Researchers verified that the sensor worked throughout the changing composition of breast milk, from colostrum to mature milk. (Image credit: USC Viterbi)
For more information, visit here .
