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Preterm BirthNCT04956354

The Use of Wireless Sensors in Neonatal Intensive Care

An observational study of Preterm Birth and Apnea of Newborn, run by McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The study will be conducted in a convenience sample of 75 infants admitted to the NICU at the Montreal Children's Hospital, divided into 3 phases: (a) Phase 1a - monitoring for 8h per day for 4 consecutive days, (b) Phase 1b - monitoring between 2h to 8h per day for 2 to 4 consecutive days, and (c) Phase 2- monitoring… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 hours to 1 monthHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Preterm Birth, Apnea of Newborn
What is being tested?
ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version B and ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version C
Type of treatment
Medical device
How many people
75 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
15 Aug 2022to Jul 2026
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 6 hours to 1 month
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Study population: Infants admitted to the NICU at the Montreal Children's Hospital with different levels of maturity/clinical conditions.

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy term infants in room air at enrollment
  • Term infants with perinatal asphyxia undergoing therapeutic hypothermia at enrollment
  • Healthy preterm infants in room air at enrollment
  • Preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure at enrollment
  • Preterm infants on conventional mechanical ventilation at enrollment
  • Preterm infants on high frequency ventilation at enrollment
  • Preterm infants on nasal intermittent positive end expiratory pressure at enrollment
  • Preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure at enrollment

Who cannot join

  • Congenital anomalies and surgical conditions (ex: gastroschisis, omphalocele, congenital diaphragmatic hernia)
  • Congenital heart disorders
  • Congenital skin infections or known conditions with fragile skin (such as epidermolysis bullosa)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Montreal Children's Hospital

    Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: The Use of Wireless Sensors in Neonatal Intensive Care (Wireless NICU)

The study will be conducted in a convenience sample of 75 infants admitted to the NICU at the Montreal Children's Hospital, divided into 3 phases: (a) Phase 1a - monitoring for 8h per day for 4 consecutive days, (b) Phase 1b - monitoring between 2h to 8h per day for 2 to 4 consecutive days, and (c) Phase 2- monitoring for 96h continuously.

Study objectives include:

  1. Demonstrate the feasibility of continuous wireless monitoring in term and preterm infants with variable degrees of maturation and acuity in the NICU.
  2. Assess safety of using a special wireless sensor system in neonates.
  3. Evaluate the accuracy of proposed wireless technology as compared to standard monitoring technology in the NICU.
Read the detailed description

Infants admitted in the NICU are all subject to continuous monitoring of vital signs such as heart rate, respirations and oxygen saturation (SpO2) by placing sensors, leads, or bands directly on infant's skin and connecting them to monitors via wires. However, despite the rapid technological advances in wireless monitoring and wearable devices across various industries, the health care sector has traditionally lagged. Therefore, the investigators aim to explore the safety and effectiveness of wireless monitoring (ANNE™ Monitoring System) and compare it with the traditional wired monitoring system on infants with variable degrees of maturity in the NICU.

More specifically, the investigators aim to examine (1) if it is feasible and to implement a wireless monitoring system in both term and preterm infants in the NICU; (2) if it is safe to use this particular wireless monitoring system among neonates; and (3) the accuracy of the wireless monitoring technology compared to the stand-of-care monitoring in the NICU.

Being tested
ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version B, ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version C
Keywords
Continuous monitoring, NICU, Wireless sensors
Medical subject headings
Premature Birth

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version BDevice

    ANNE™ is a wireless vital sign monitoring device that uses soft, flexible, skin-mountable biosensors (ANNE™ Chest and ANNE™ Limb) with Bluetooth® 5 enabled and encrypted data communication to an iPad application. Study sensors to be applied on patients are:

    Sensor 1 - A chest unit (ANNE™ Chest) with embedded battery, sensors, and a three-axis accelerometer that captures the following signals: electrocardiography (ECG), temperature, seismocardiography (SCG) and the chest wall movements.

    Sensor 2 - A limb unit (ANNE™ Limb) with embedded battery that captures the photoplethysmography (PPG) and SpO2 signals.

  • ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version CDevice

    ANNE™ is a wireless vital sign monitoring device that uses soft, flexible, skin-mountable biosensors (ANNE™ Arc and ANNE™ Limb) with Bluetooth® 5 enabled and encrypted data communication to an iPad application. Study sensors to be applied on patients are:

    Sensor 1 - ANNE™ Arc with a Lithium-Polymer battery that contains a 6-axial inertial measurement unit (IMU), which includes a 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer, a power management component, an analog front-end component, passive electrodes for ECG, and bio-impedance feature that capture the following waveforms: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and skin temperature.

    Sensor 2 - A limb unit (ANNE™ Limb) with embedded battery that captures the photoplethysmography (PPG) and SpO2 signals.

  • ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version CDevice

    ANNE™ is a wireless vital sign monitoring device that uses soft, flexible, skin-mountable biosensors (ANNE™ Arc and ANNE™ Limb) with Bluetooth® 5 enabled and encrypted data communication to an iPad application. Study sensors to be applied on patients are:

    Sensor 1 - ANNE™ Arc with a Lithium-Polymer battery that contains a 6-axial inertial measurement unit (IMU), which includes a 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer, a power management component, an analog front-end component, passive electrodes for ECG, and bio-impedance feature that capture the following waveforms: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and skin temperature.

    Sensor 2 - A limb unit (ANNE™ Limb) with embedded battery that captures the photoplethysmography (PPG) and SpO2 signals.

Study groups in NCT04956354
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Phase 1aOnce the setup of the study sensors is complete, clinical and physiological data will be continuously acquired for 8h during daytime, for 4 consecutive days. In addition, photographs of the skin at the site of placement of the sensors will be taken before sensors placement and after removal. Hourly axillary temperature measured by the bedside nurse (as part of routine care) will be manually recorded for each patient by the research team. A temperature and humidity recorder will also be placed around 15cm from the infants to continuously record air temperature and humidity.
Receives: Device: ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version B
Phase 1bOnce the setup of the study sensors is complete, clinical and physiological data will be continuously acquired between 2h to 8h during daytime, for 2 to 4 consecutive days. In addition, photographs of the skin at the site of placement of the sensors will be taken before sensors placement and after removal. A temperature and humidity recorder will also be placed around 15cm from the infants to continuously record air temperature and humidity.
Receives: Device: ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version C
Phase 2Once the setup of the study sensors is complete, clinical and physiological data will be continuously acquired for a longer monitoring period - i.e., 96 consecutive hours. In consideration with device battery life, the devices will be replaced daily. In addition, photographs of the skin at the site of placement of the sensors will be taken at baseline, device replacement, and at 96h. The research team will also measure respirations using uncalibrated RIP belts at the level of the chest and abdomen (2 to 3 continuous hours each day). Two respiratory bands will be placed circumferentially around the infant's chest and around the abdomen to measure chest and abdominal wall movements, respectively. A temperature and humidity recorder will also be placed around 15cm from the infants to continuously record air temperature and humidity.
Receives: Device: ANNE™ Monitoring System (2 sensors) - version C

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Accuracy of wireless wearable heart rate data

    Accuracy of wireless wearable heart rate data compared against the current standards of NICU bedside monitoring.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  2. Accuracy of wireless wearable respiratory rate data

    Accuracy of wireless wearable respiratory rate data compared against the current standards of NICU bedside monitoring.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  3. Accuracy of wireless wearable skin temperature data

    Accuracy of wireless wearable skin temperature data compared against the current standards of NICU bedside monitoring.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  4. Accuracy of wireless wearable oxygen saturation (SpO2) data

    Accuracy of wireless wearable SpO2 data compared against the current standards of NICU bedside monitoring.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  5. Proportion of time exhibiting unreliable wireless device signals due to significant movement artifacts

    Proportion of monitoring time exhibiting unreliable wireless device signals due to significant movement artifacts. The exact definition of unreliable for each of the signals will be outlined before study initiation.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  6. Proportion of time with loss of network connections or other technical problems

    Proportion of time with loss of network connections or other technical problems from the wireless wearables vs. the NICU bedside monitoring.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  7. Skin integrity at the sites of sensor placement

    Skin integrity at the site of wireless lead placements from de-identified digital photographs, evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist who will evaluate for signs of irritation, redness and/or erosions.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  8. Evaluation of potential subjective pain experienced by infant at time of sensor removal

    Assessing infants for presence of acute pain associated with sensor removal by administering Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) at time of device removal.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  9. Clinicians', nursing, and parental perceptions

    Clinicians', nursing, and parental perceptions of the implementation of wireless wearable devices in the NICU.

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Automated reports of physiological health - electrocardiogram

    Automated reports for electrocardiogram acquired from the wireless monitoring device

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  2. Automated reports of physiological health - respiratory waveforms

    Automated reports for respiratory waveforms acquired from the wireless monitoring device

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  3. Automated reports of physiological health - oxygen saturation

    Automated reports for oxygen saturation acquired from the wireless monitoring device

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  4. Automated reports of physiological health - temperature

    Automated reports for temperature acquired from the wireless monitoring device

    Measured: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring

  5. Comparison between chest and respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) and the wireless monitoring device

    For patients in Cohort 2, we will compare the chest and abdominal wall movement signals derived from accelerometry with RIP (the gold standard) with the simultaneously recorded wireless monitoring device data.

    Measured: 2 to 3 consecutive hours each day during the 4-day continuous monitoring

  6. Enhanced respiratory monitoring using accelerometry

    For patients in Cohort 2, we will compare the chest and abdominal wall movement signals derived from accelerometry with thoracic impedance (the current standard) with the simultaneously recorded wireless monitoring device data.

    Measured: 2 to 3 consecutive hours each day during the 4-day continuous monitoring

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Jul 2021
  2. Study start15 Aug 2022
  3. Primary completion23 Sep 2024
  4. Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
75 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04956354
Sponsor's protocol ID
Wireless NICU
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
11 Jun 2021
Last updated
8 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Preterm Birth and Apnea of Newborn, run by McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Accuracy of wireless wearable heart rate data (time frame: 4 consecutive days of wireless monitoring). The study lists 9 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2026.

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