A new incubator pad to help premature infants with breathing problems.
Official title: Prapela® SVS incubator pad: A cost-effective stochastic vibrotactile device to improve the clinical course of infants with apnea of prematurity.
Funded at Prapela, INC. · NIH-11047736 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new kind of pad that gently vibrates to help premature babies who have trouble breathing, with the hope of making them feel better and reducing their breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Prapela, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,475,909 |
| NIH project number | 5U44DA059380-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047736 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are premature infants, particularly those born at or before 34 weeks of gestation, who are experiencing apnea of prematurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are full-term infants or those who do not exhibit symptoms of apnea of prematurity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel incubator pad designed to provide stochastic vibrotactile stimulation to premature infants suffering from apnea of prematurity (AOP). The pad aims to improve the clinical management of AOP, which affects a significant number of preterm infants. By using this device, the research will assess its safety, efficacy, and overall impact on reducing apnea events compared to traditional treatments. The approach combines innovative technology with established clinical practices to enhance care for vulnerable newborns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the frequency of apnea episodes in premature infants, improving their overall health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using similar vibrotactile stimulation techniques have shown promising results, indicating a potential for significant advancements in treating apnea of prematurity.
Where this research is happening
-
Prapela, INC.
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Konsin, John Phillip — Prapela, INC.
- Study coordinator: Konsin, John Phillip
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Continuous monitor to better detect and classify apnea in premature newborns
A small multimodal breathing monitor plus smart software designed to automatically tell what kind of apnea premature babies are having.
-
A new monitoring system for detecting breathing issues in premature babies
This study is working on a new way to keep an eye on premature babies to better spot and understand their breathing pauses, helping doctors provide safer and better care for these little ones.
-
Butyrate-based approach to prevent vision loss in premature babies with retinopathy
A study is exploring whether increasing butyrate levels can prevent vision-damaging retinopathy in premature infants by addressing gut bacteria and metabolic pathways.
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TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
A new AI-based tool analyzes retinal images to help doctors diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity in premature babies and other patients at risk.
-
Long-term endotypes of prematurity-related lung disease in former preemies
A long-term study looking at why some babies born very early develop lasting breathing problems and how their genes might explain these different paths.
-
Deep learning tool to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity in newborns
A new AI-based diagnostic tool uses eye images from premature babies to help clinicians identify treatment-needed retinopathy of prematurity.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.