The main activity in the research field of Biomedical Engineering is to take part in the planning and realisation of a Perinatal Intensive Centrum at the Semmelweis Medical University Budapest, Ist Department of Pediatry. Premature infants having birth-weights less than 2500 grams require continuous intensive biophysical monitoring, therapy and life support during the critical first weeks of their life. We took part booth in the planning and realisation of the computerised data collection and alarm system and also the man-machine interaction at the bedside or at a centralised monitoring station.

An oxygen-air mixture control device has been developed for bronchopulmonal dysplasy (BPD) therapy. The device can be used in perinatal intensive care units and helps to eliminate the overdose of oxygen and thus can prevent retinopathy and other side-effects of oxygen therapy. Clinical test was successful. The new method utilises an oxygen-air mixture control instrument supplying elevated and controlled oxygen level through a head box for the infant . The oxygen-air mixture quantity (flow) and the fraction of the inspired oxygen (FiO2), flowing through the head-box, can be controlled. The regulation can be carried out manually, automatically, or by computer control. For the latter two cases the reference signal (i.e. the oxyhemoglobin saturation in blood) can be gained from a pulse-oxymeter.

At present we develop an experimental hypothermic control device (HYPOCONT-1) aimed to decrease the scalp temperature (to about 10oC) at new-born, to help in improvement of certain metabolic disturbances. (At this temperature the oxygen consumption of brain is significantly lower than at 37oC.)

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