Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is widely used as a non-invasive treatment to help preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, prolonged use of CPAP nasal prongs can place significant pressure on delicate nasal tissues. This can lead to injuries such as septal damage, necrosis of the columella, and long-term nasal deformities.
To address this urgent challenge, a interdisciplinary team involving faculty members from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Computer Science, and Nursing—led by graduate student Rowa Hamdan, Le Hoang and mentored by Dr. Liping Tang and Dr. Shiyao Lin—is investigating new ways to mitigate nasal prong-induced injuries using 3D modeling, simulation, and wearable sensing technologies. In this project, they propose to develop a wearable sensor and digital twinning (WSDT) system to monitor, evaluate, and mitigate nasal prong-induced stresses on the noses of preterm neonates, with the goal of reducing the risk of nasal deformities. The proposed WSDT system will serve as an accurate, low-cost, and reusable tool for neonatal skin risk assessment. It will empower clinicians with sensor-informed decision-making to guide nursing protocols, support the design of improved nasal prong interfaces, and ultimately reduce the risk of nasal deformities in premature infants.
This promising work has already earned recognition at UTA’s Innovation Day 2025, where the project won Graduate Poster 1st Place Award.
