Project Description:

Each year, nearly 68,000 neonatal transports occur across the United States, many involving infants born up to 14 weeks prematurely. These fragile neonates are rapidly transferred to higher-level NICUs to receive specialized care, yet the journey itself poses a significant clinical risk. During transport, premature infants are exposed to substantial turbulence and mechanical vibration that their underdeveloped brains are unable to withstand. As a result, thousands of transported infants develop intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) annually. IVH remains a major complication of preterm birth, often leading to lifelong neurodevelopmental delays, cerebral palsy, and extended NICU stays. Despite its severity, current transport incubators offer minimal vibration reduction or positional support, leaving a critical gap in neonatal transport safety.

To address this unmet need, we developed the Neonatal Emergency Suspension Transport (NEST)—a secondary device designed to work within existing transport incubators. NEST suspends the infant mattress using a spring-damper mechanism that absorbs and smooths out the turbulence produced during ambulance motion. By reducing the magnitude of transmitted vibrations, the device aims to protect the infant’s germinal matrix from stress that can trigger bleeding. In addition, NEST incorporates adjustable memory-foam body supports that maintain midline positioning of the infant’s head and torso. Proper midline alignment is essential for minimizing rotational acceleration, preventing unnecessary strain on the developing brain, and ensuring stability throughout transport. These supports can be customized for infants of varying sizes, enabling safe and consistent cradling during every transfer. NEST provides a practical and integrable solution with the potential to improve clinical outcomes for thousands of transported neonates each year.

Future development will focus on refining mechanical components, expanding partnerships with healthcare providers and insurers, and pursuing early intellectual property protection to support translation into clinical use.