INTRODUCTION: The study aim was to test the safety and efficacy of a pad with optic fibers developed for monitoring newborn respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR). METHODS: Thirty New Zealand White rabbits were included, divided by weight into three groups. RR and HR were measured using two methods for each rabbit: ECG electrodes as the reference method and a newly developed pad with an experimental fiber optic system (EFOS) as the experimental method. RESULTS: Analysis was performed on data for 29 rabbits (10 female, 34%; 19 male, 66%). EFOS performed better at measuring RR compared with HR. RR values did not differ significantly between the methods for the whole group (p = 0.151) or within each sex (female: p > 0.999; male: p = 0.075). Values for HR, however, did differ between methods for the whole group of animals (p < 0.001) and also within groups by sex (female: p < 0.001; male: p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The results of this preclinical study demonstrate the potential of this non-invasive method using a fiber optic pad to measure HR and RR.

Biomedical Research Center University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Centre for Cardiovascular Research and Development American Heart Poland Inc Kostkowice Poland

Department of Applied Mathematics Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science VSB Technical University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of Neonatology University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of Pediatrics and Prenatal Cardiology University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of Telecommunications Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science VSB Technical University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of the Deputy Director for Science Research and Education University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

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