INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Worldwide, about 15 million babies are born prematurely each year. Born with a developmental deficit, they are often taken away from their parents after birth and assigned to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Left alone in incubators without a real chance to experience skin-to-skin bonding with their parents, they are deprived of touch and physical contact. This places immense stress on their sensory and central nervous system. Also, for parents, bonding reduces stress and builds attachment. Bo.by is a solution that enables remote contact between parents and infants in the incubator. A device for parents and a mattress for an infant are connected and collect, send and receive data such as touch, breast movement and vibration, heartbeat, body heat or smell. This two-way communication, enriched with senses, offers the possibility to experience a natural, prolonged skin-to-skin bond.