Philips and global healthcare leaders develop innovative resuscitation device to help reduce neonatal mortality

On the occasion of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 73), Royal Philips (NYSE :PHG , AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the successful development of the 'Augmented Infant Resuscitator (AIR)' – an add-on device for conventional neonatal bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitators that helps caregivers to effectively resuscitate asphyxiated newborn babies. Developed in collaboration with the Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies (CAMTech) at Massachusetts General Hospital Global Health, the Philips Augmented Infant Resuscitator aims to reduce neonatal mortality, especially in parts of the world that are underserved in terms of healthcare. It is expected to be available in limited volume in selected markets prior to scaling up availability in low- and middle-income countries.

Birth asphyxia's global impact
Birth asphyxia is a medical condition caused by prolonged deprivation of oxygen to a newborn during the birth process, resulting in damage to vital organs, usually the baby's brain. Globally, birth asphyxia causes more than 800,000 neonatal deaths annually, and over one million potentially preventable reported stillbirths [1]. Effective resuscitation could reduce birth asphyxia related neonatal deaths by 30 percent, and deaths from prematurity by 10 percent [2]. However, one-in-five trained healthcare professionals fail to perform the resuscitation technique correctly, and those that do often experience a rapid decline in proficiency [3].

Effective resuscitation through innovation
The AIR device is an innovative add-on that is compatible with virtually all existing manual bag-valve-mask resuscitators. It has the potential to significantly improve the initial training and ongoing practice of bag-valve-mask resuscitation skills. The device measures ventilation flow and pressure to monitor the quality of ventilation, and provides intuitive visual feedback on common ventilation errors, including inadequate face-mask seal, obstructed airway, incorrect ventilation rate, and harsh breaths that can damage the baby's airways. Any one of these mistakes may result in death or permanent neurological injury. The AIR also records performance for future feedback, improving the training of healthcare professionals by identifying persistent gaps in technique.

"At Philips, we aim to improve people's health through meaningful innovations," said Arman Voskerchyan, Business Leader for Therapeutic Care at Philips. "Our mission is to improve the lives of three billion people a year by 2025. By combining our expertise in respiratory care and resuscitation with the strengths of global health innovators like the AIR team at CAMTech, we aim to drive and scale innovative solutions that bridge societal divides in healthcare to reach underserved populations, and thereby addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3."