Evaluation of Pressure Sensing Modalities and Lumen Design Parameters for a Novel Multifunctional Neonatal Feeding and Vital Signs Monitoring Catheter

Abstract Premature infants often require respiratory support, vital signs monitoring, and gastric feeding during intensive care, but current monitoring systems rely on external devices that can damage fragile neonatal skin. This paper presents an engineering evaluation of the airway pressure sensing feature as part of a multifunctional feeding catheter designed to integrate vital signs monitoring and airway pressure monitoring with existing feeding capabilities. Two sensing modalities—direct sensing using embedded microtransducers and remote sensing via air-filled lumens—were experimentally compared under 24-h cyclic and static pressure conditions. Results show that while embedded sensors face challenges such as drift and miniaturization constraints, a remote architecture using an external amplified sensor offers superior signal stability and ease of integration. In addition, the study characterizes how lumen length and internal diameter affect pressure transmission. Narrow or excessively long lumens introduce signal delays as long as 15 s and signal dampening, while larger, shorter lumens preserve signal fidelity. These findings provide design guidance for future development of a multifunctional neonatal feeding and monitoring catheter and define critical engineering parameters for final performance optimization and manufacturability.