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AMEK Teletraining Series for Biomedical Engineers
Free Online Certificate course for Biomedical Engineer – (Pre and Post assessment with 70% attendance is mandatory for course certificate).
Equipment in newborn care units are highly specialised. Without proper knowledge and skills, this equipment can be potentially dangerous for the infants, families and care providers. Join AMEK & NEST360 as we explore the operation, use and maintenance of essential newborn technologies.
Previous Sessions
Topic: Radiant Warmers
When: November 24, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Expert(s): Engr. George Banda (Malawi)
However warm a room may feel to an adult, a neonate can lose heat. This heat loss in neonatal patients is rapid, with low body temperature (hypothermia) directly contributing to mortality. Radiant warmers use overhead heating elements to provide radiating heat ensuring maintenance of normal body temperature (normothermia).
Topic: Incubators
When: November 25, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Experts: Engr. Felix Karbolo
Newborn babies lose heat through four main mechanisms: evaporation, convection, conduction and radiation.Incubators provide a closed, humidified and heated environment for neonatal patients that need thermal management.
Topic: Phototherapy Lights & Glucometers
When: November 26, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Experts: Engr. Vincent Ochieng & Noel Waithaka
Phototherapy lights are used exclusively within the newborn care ward for newborn patients displaying symptoms of high bilirubin levels (jaundice). Phototherapy uses blue light transmitted on the patient’s skin within the wavelengths of 425 to 475 nm to break down unconjugated bilirubin to a water-soluble, non-toxic form that can be easily excreted.
Previous Sessions
Topic: Suction Pumps
When: September 30, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Experts: Engr. Vincent Ochieng (Kenya) & Dr. June Madete (Kenya)
Suctioning is an essential procedure within multiple hospital settings. In newborn care units, suction pumps are used to remove obstructions from blood or secretions in the mouth, nose or upper airway. A suction pump uses an internal pump to create a partial vacuum in a collection reservoir through which suction fluid is collected.
Topic: Oxygen Concentrator
When: October 1, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Experts: Engr. George Banda (Malawi)
Oxygen concentrators are one of the most commonly used sources of oxygen therapy, concentrating 85-95.5% oxygen from ambient air using two sieve beds containing a substance that adsorbs nitrogen at high pressures.
Topic: Oxygen Cylinders & Flow Splitters
When: October 28, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Experts: Vincent Ochieng
Oxygen cylinders are used within multiple hospital settings. In newborn care units, an oxygen cylinder may be used as a standalone source of oxygen. Oxygen cylinders may be used as backup to oxygen concentrators in case of power outage or transport, or as a primary means of delivering oxygen therapy to a patient. Flow splitters are accessory devices that divide oxygen from one source to several patients at independent, adjustable flow rates.
Topic: bubbleCPAP & Pulse Oximeters
When: October 29, 2021 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (EAT/Kenyan Time)
Experts: Vincent Ochieng & Noel Waithaka
BubbleCPAP (bCPAP) devices are used within the newborn care ward to provide positive pressure to increase fractional concentration of oxygen (FiO2) and decrease work of breathing in newborns with respiratory distress. Assessment of oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter is necessary in clinical management of patients in all hospital settings, but particularly during oxygen therapy in newborns. Peripheral pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method of measuring pulse rate and oxygen saturation (oxygen bound to hemoglobin in the capillaries) using infrared & red light.