Project Description: 

Patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are some of the most vulnerable and susceptible to many health challenges later on. One of the most important aspects of treatment for these patients is ensuring proper nutrition, most preferably through Human Breast Milk (HBM). Lipids constitute 5% of total human breast milk, but make up 50% of infants’ daily energy intake, making fat delivery extremely critical to organ growth and development. However, fat is lost in enormous amounts from the milk handling and administration process. In order to optimize neonatal fat delivery, the NeoMate aims to minimize fat loss along the enteral feeding process used for premature infants in the NICU.