OT in the News: Calmer

Image: https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/therapeutic-bed-can-help-keep-preterm-newborns-brain-oxygen-levels-stable/

Highlighted by UBC's Faculty of Medicine and CTV News, come new findings that a "therapeutic bed can help keep preterm newborns’ brain oxygen levels stable."

The device, called Calmer, is a pillow-sized therapeutic bed covered in soft fabric and inserted into the incubator. It can be programmed to mimic a parent’s heartbeat and breathing rate— providing a soothing presence by moving up and down gently to simulate a breathing motion and heartbeat sound for the baby when their parent cannot be present.

Calmer was developed by Dr. Liisa Holsti, a professor in the department of occupational science and occupational therapy at UBC, and an investigator at BC Children’s Hospital and Women’s Health Research Institute; and Dr. Karon Maclean, a UBC professor of computer science

Read the full write up here, and access the published article here.