Lung monitoring
Caring for our most vulnerable patients
1 in 10
Every year, around 15 million babies worldwide — about one in ten — are born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and often depend on intensive care for survival and long-term outcomes. In neonatal care, every minute counts.
1.1 million
Approximately 1.1 million preterm born babies still die every year due to serious lung conditions. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death for infants under five (after pneumonia), with respiratory failure being the primary driver.
50 %
Many face underdeveloped lungs that can quickly advance into life-threatening complications and lasting disabilities. About fifty percent of the very and extremely preterm born babies show signs of severe disability at the age of 11.
Current monitoring methods
Today neonatal care teams rely on intermittent imaging and monitoring methods such as chest X-rays, manual observation, and invasive blood sampling. These methods come with significant limitations, providing only snapshots of the baby’s condition and can cause discomfort, pain, and stress for the baby. Physicians often experience delays in receiving chest X-ray results, which today are essential for identifying serious conditions such as pneumothorax and atelectasis in preterm born babies and the repeated exposure to radiation can increase the risk of long-term harm.
Rapid access to diagnostic information in neonatal intensive care is critical to enable timely clinical decisions that drive better patient outcomes.
Gestational development by weeks, source.
Lung Monitoring with Neola®
Neola® is designed for intended use with all preterm born babies in need of lung monitoring, regardless of respiratory support method or care setting. The goal is to provide a safe and non-invasive method to monitor the lungs of these vulnerable patients in real time, with the potential to support instant detection of complications, enable earlier treatment, and ultimately improve care and long-term outcomes.
“I truly appreciate this as a neonatologist, as I frequently encounter cases of pneumothorax where a lung can collapse, and we do not detect it until vital signs begin to change. X-rays are not always particularly helpful. Gaining a real understanding of oxygenation and how well the lungs are expanded could therefore be extremely valuable for our patients.”
– Dr. Janene H. Fuerch, MD, Co-Director of Impact1, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, Medical Director, Neonatal ECMO at Stanford Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, USA
Mortality from collapsed lung (pneumothorax) in newborns, source.
Urgent need for more pediatric medical devices
In 2023, Stanford launched the Impact1 program with the vision of improving the health, safety and quality of life of pediatric and maternal patients globally. The name Impact1 reflects the mission: to promote innovations that provide meaningful “impact from day one”.
The same year, Neola® was recognized as a promising innovation with the potential to upgrade neonatal intensive care from the first day in the clinic. As a result, Neola Medical was selected as a Stanford Impact1 company, receiving support through the Stanford Impact1 program.
Voices from neonatal intensive care
Neonatologist Dr. Pontus Johansson describes today’s care in the neonatal intensive care unit
Linda Nilsson
Intensive care nurse
At Skåne University Hospital in Lund, one of Sweden’s neonatal intensive care units provides care for the most fragile and vulnerable patients, preterm born babies. Here, intensive care nurse Linda Nilsson has dedicated the past 20 years of her career.
“A vital part of the job is recognizing early symptoms to detect problems before they become serious. A preterm born baby’s condition can change rapidly, which makes continuous monitoring essential.”
Linda Nilsson, intensive care nurse at Skåne University Hospital in Lund
Veronica Hermansson, specialist physiotherapist at the Pediatric Clinic at Södra Älvsborgs Hospital in Borås
Veronica Hermansson
Specialist physiotherapist
At the Pediatric Clinic at Södra Älvsborg Hospital in Borås, Veronica Hermansson works as a specialist physiotherapist. For many years, her primary focus has been developmental neurology and neonatal follow-up of preterm born babies, monitoring their development from the time they are discharged from the neonatal unit.
“Preterm born babies are a growing patient group who may require extensive support throughout life. Their brains are underdeveloped and highly sensitive, making them more vulnerable and at increased risk for neurodevelopmental challenges.”
Stay updated on our progress and milestones
Neola Medical is currently in clinical phase with Neola®, undergoing our first clinical study on preterm born babies in Sweden. As the company approaches commercial launch, the focus is on securing market authorization in the U.S., followed by Europe.
Invest in Neola Medical
At Neola Medical, our mission is to provide preterm born babies with a stronger and safer start in life. Through our innovative medical device, Neola®, we aim to advance neonatal intensive care by offering non-invasive, continuous, real-time lung monitoring, with the potential to support proactive care, reduce morbidity and improve quality of life for these vulnerable patients.
"We aim to detect lung complications immediately, giving healthcare professionals the tools they need to make life-saving decisions."
– Hanna Sjöström, CEO Neola Medical