This baby health monitor is disguised as a little shoe

This baby health monitor concept device – Little I – by industrial designer Chris Barnes draws inspiration from the form and function of a sandal.

A silicone strap, which is overmolded onto the ABS enclosure housing all the necessary electrics, attaches to the child’s foot both whilst hugging the back of the ankle.

When a foot is inserted into the device a mechanical switch turns it on to measure the child’s heart rate, oxygen level and temperature.

Two of the fundamental aims of this device were that it should be both affordable and non-intrusive. At the same time, Barnes wanted it to be simple to understand and reliable.

As such, the concept device features a simple interface that displays the newborn’s status using a traffic light system and distinctive audible alerts.

The proposed service involves nongovernmental organisations buying and transporting the device to communities where part of their services would include teaching people how to use it.

In parallel, the mother/carer would be able to hear about the device from within the community and then later be given one by a health care professional after giving birth.

A wearable health monitor for newborns in low resource countries

Barnes felt activated to design the Little I concept because of the millions of new born babies that die due to lack of access to medical care and facilities.

​​​​​​​”Little I reaches a market that current solutions cannot,” he says.

“This innovation empowers parents in low resource countries to monitor their newborn babies, by providing them with a cheap, accessible device and ultimately giving them new confidence that their newborn will survive despite their lack of medical knowledge.​​​​​​​”