A medical student has designed a low-cost baby sling that mimics hospital phototherapy, offering a potentially life-saving treatment for neonatal jaundice in regions with limited access to medical technology. The device, dubbed “BiliRoo,” uses a specialized filter to harness sunlight for bilirubin reduction while blocking harmful UV rays. This could drastically reduce the estimated 100,000+ deaths and countless disabilities caused by severe jaundice globally each year.
The Problem of Jaundice and Sunlight
Neonatal jaundice—a yellowing of the skin caused by bilirubin buildup—afflicts up to 80% of premature infants and 60% of newborns. Modern hospitals treat it with blue light therapy, but many parts of the world lack this infrastructure. Families often resort to sunlight exposure, which can work, but carries the risk of UV damage and skin cancer. This makes it a dangerous compromise, particularly in low-resource settings where healthcare is already strained.
BiliRoo: A Wearable Solution
The BiliRoo sling features a transparent panel with a UV-blocking filter. This allows therapeutic blue light to reach the baby’s skin while shielding them from harmful radiation. Designed by Daniel John, a University of Michigan medical student, the sling is lightweight, portable, and doesn’t require electricity. He developed the idea based on his upbringing in Nepal, where power outages frequently disrupted medical care.
“It’s low cost, easy-to-use, simple and non-electric.” — Daniel John
The design also promotes skin-to-skin contact (“kangaroo care”), which benefits infant development and reduces stress. This makes the treatment less disruptive to families and eases the burden on overloaded hospital staff.
Early Testing and Future Trials
Initial tests show the sling delivers sufficient therapeutic light even when tilted at various angles. However, real-world challenges remain: sunlight is intermittent, and prolonged exposure to heat could cause dehydration. John is preparing for clinical trials in Nigeria, where filtered sunlight therapy has shown promise but lacks widespread adoption due to logistical hurdles.
The device is currently being manufactured in Nepal. Pilot studies will begin later this year, focusing on mild-to-moderate cases of jaundice. Experts, like pediatric intensive care specialist Tina Slusher, believe the BiliRoo could be effective for less severe cases, bridging the gap between high-tech hospital treatment and risky, unfiltered sunlight exposure.
This innovative sling represents a practical step towards addressing a preventable global health crisis, offering a simple, accessible solution for families in areas where modern medical resources are scarce.
