Diapers go digital! A new 'smart' diaper that can detect possible urinary tract infections, kidney dysfunctions, and dehydration in babies has been developed in the US.
The product, developed by a New York start-up, is accompanied by a smartphone app that can transmit the information about baby's health to a physician.
At the front of the diaper is a patch with several coloured squares. Each square represents a different interaction with a protein, water content or bacteria, and changes colour if it detects something is outside of normal parameters.
There is also a neutral white square, to more easily check for colour changes in the other squares, the 'New York Times' reported.
A smartphone app takes a picture and can make precise readings of the chemical data based on colour changes. The data is uploaded to a central location, where physicians can get information about how the child is doing and whether the baby needs further testing.
The diaper is expected to be tested at Benioff Children's Hospital of the University of California, San Francisco in September.
Yaroslav Faybishenko, Pixie Scientific's founder said he thought the diaper, which he said would cost about 30 per cent more than regular diapers, had potential as a consumer product, for parents who want to keep regular tabs on their child's health.
Rather than overwhelming parents with data, the app is likely to let them know whether they should see a pediatrician for one or more possible conditions, manufacturers said.
With the parents' permission, the detailed urine analysis data could be sent to a doctor's office.
