Preliminary Design of a Medical Device to Reduce Hematoma and Arterial Damage Related to ABG Procedures in Neonatal and Pediatric ICUs

Critically ill newborns and pediatric patients in intensive care units (NICU/PICU) require precise, continuous physiological monitoring to ensure survival and optimize long-term health outcomes. Among the primary diagnostic tools is Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis, which provides vital data regarding patient oxygenation, ventilation, and acid-base status. However, traditional ABG analysis presents significant clinical challenges: it is an intermittent diagnostic tool that fails to provide continuous monitoring, and it remains a complex, invasive procedure associated with risks such as hematomas, arterial damage, and infections. Furthermore, it demands highly trained nurses to minimize these complications, placing an operational burden on ICUs. Consequently, there is an unmet clinical need for safer, continuous, and non-invasive monitoring alternatives in neonatal and pediatric critical care. To address this gap, the purpose of this master’s thesis is to systematically analyze unmet clinical needs within the NICU and PICU, with a specific focus on developing solutions.