Locked When You Need it - Moves When You Don't

The KangaMove is a linkage arm with locking joints to assist in kangaroo-time for prenatal infants without risking the dislodgement of vital equipment

Project Background

Skin-to-skin contact between parents and their newborns, including pre-term infants, is essential for fostering bonding, stabilizing the baby's heart rate and breathing, and regulating body temperature. For pre-term infants, it supports neurodevelopment and improves weight gain, feeding behaviors, and immune function. Parents also benefit, experiencing reduced stress and increased confidence in caregiving. This practice, often called "kangaroo care," is recommended by the World Health Organization for its numerous physiological and emotional benefits (World Health Organization).

The Problem Being Solved

The issue with skin-to-skin contact in pre-term infants is the interference of this process from the various ventilator tubes and IV lines running from hospital equipment to the child. These lines are vital to keeping the baby healthy but are prone to dislodgement or kinking when moved. This problem causes many hospitals to give up Kangaroo Care until the child is more stable, causing a loss to the child's early development. 

Our Solution

The KangaMove is designed to support parents during skin-to-skin contact by providing stability while holding their child. The posable arm integrates seamlessly with vital NICU equipment, including Jet Ventilator auxiliary components, ventilator tubes, and IV lines. By securing these essential connections, the KangaMove alleviates concerns about tube displacement, allowing parents to focus on bonding with their infant.

The Kangamove is a posable arm designed to attach to the stand of a standard Brunnel Jet Ventilator. One end of the arm connects securely to the ventilator stand, while the other features a horizontal platform for holding auxiliary equipment and tubing. With its locking joints, the arm allows nurses to easily adjust and position equipment for optimal accessibility, then securely lock it in place for stability and reliability.  See the video

The KangaMove was designed, manufactured, and tested by five UC San Diego students as their Senor Capstone Project. The students worked under a mentor professor, David Gillett, and utilized the engineering department's machine shop and team of talented technical staff including Steve Roberts, Tom Chalfant, and Chris Cassidy. The project was presented by the team to various engineers and professionals during the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Poster Event in March 2025.