Hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice is a major problem related to newborns today, accounting for 60-80% of infants hospitalized in the first 7 days of life with the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity. Severe hyperbilirubinemia is the 5th leading cause of child death in Indonesia based on Riskesdas 2020. This can actually be prevented with early diagnosis and standardized therapy.

Hyperbilirubinemia is an excessive accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, characterized by jaundice, yellowish discoloration of the skin, sclera and nails. In newborns, the lifespan of red blood cells is shorter than in adults, which makes a lot of bilirubin, the function of enzymes to conjugate bilirubin is poor, and the function of removing bilirubin from the body is also weak.

Phototherapy is based on the use of light to convert unconjugated bilirubin molecules into water-soluble isomers that can be excreted in the bile or urine without conjugation. Bilirubin absorbs light most strongly in the blue region of the spectrum near 485 nm, a region where tissue penetration of light increases sharply with increasing wavelength. Only wavelengths that penetrate and are absorbed by bilirubin have a phototherapeutic effect. Light specifically in the blue region of the spectrum from 470 to 490 nm is probably most effective in treating hyperbilirubinemia.

Hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice is a major problem related to newborn babies, currently accounting for 60-80% of the causes of babies being hospitalized in the first 7 days of life with the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity. Severe hyperbilirubinemia is the 5th cause of child death in Indonesia based on Riset kesehatan dasar (Riskesdas) 2007. This can actually be prevented with early diagnosis and standardized therapy. Phototherapy is a method that has been proven to reduce unconjugated bilirubin levels effectively. Currently there are many types of phototherapy equipment available commercially. However, conventional phototherapy requires parents to be separated from their babies so that exclusive breastfeeding for babies is hampered. Apart from that, the price of phototherapy equipment in circulation reaches 200 to 300 million, which is still relatively expensive to provide in health facilities, especially in remote areas. Besides that, the costs of importing such products are quite expensive.

Smart Phototherapy System Airlangga Bilirubin Nesting (AirBiliNest) is a medical device in the form of a phototherapy swaddling blanket which functions to treat babies who have been diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia.

This tool is able to provide blue light to babies so that it can reduce bilirubin levels with international standard guidelines. Smart Phototherapy System Airlangga Bilirubin Nesting (AirBiliNest) has a brand and registered a patent for the brand with the number DID2022035302. With the superior features that AirBiliNest has, it is expected to be an ideal phototherapy tool for jaundice babies so that it is recommended by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI).

AirBiliNest work by producing blue light on top and bottom of the patient. The light source is made with high luminance InGaN standard light emitting diodes (LED) with 5 mm transparent plastic capsule with IP65 rating, with emission spectrum at 470 nm. On each side of the blanket consists of 5 panels of LED, each panel is build with an array of 8x27 LEDs, 1 cm separate, with the total illumination area is 40 cm x 30 cm on both sides. To controle the LED light, a mobile phone with AirBiliNest Application is needed. The App can control the intensity of the phototherapy as well monitoring the temperature and humidity of the baby inside the AirBIliNest. To turn on the AirBiliNest can be done using straight power from power adaptor, or using a battery provided.

You can check paper or journal regarding AirBiliNest on our website

Medika Karya Airlangga is a startup company located in Surabaya Indonesia that focused on HealtTech Research and Development