College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Biomedical Engineering
Date
3-2026
Primary Advisor
Christopher Heylman, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Soph Ziemian, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition affecting more than 60% of newborns, caused by an excess buildup of bilirubin in the blood due to the liver’s limited ability to process it efficiently [1]. The standard treatment involves hospital-based phototherapy, where infants are placed in incubators under blue light to break down bilirubin in the skin. Although effective, this approach requires infants to remain under the lights for 12–18 hours per day, often with eye protection, and separated from their parents—disrupting early bonding and potentially contributing to toxic stress that can impact neurological and emotional development [2]. While at-home phototherapy solutions exist, such as light vests, these options often treat only part of the body, restrict movement, and make it difficult for parents to hold their child during therapy. The JaundEase system addresses these limitations by combining clinical efficacy with family-centered care. Designed as a modular, light-emitting swaddle blanket, JaundEase delivers uniform full-body blue-light therapy while allowing infants to be safely held and comforted by their parents. The modular design eliminates the need for external power cords, reducing choking hazards and improving mobility within the home environment. Additionally, while current phototherapy treatments meet clinical needs, they overlook the emotional and developmental importance of patient-infant bonding. JaundEase seeks to close this gap by providing a treatment that is both medically effective and emotionally supportive. The main goal of the JaundEase project is to develop a safe, portable, and clinically effective at-home phototherapy device that reduces bilirubin levels in newborns and enables continuous bonding and physical closeness between infants and their families during treatment for JaundEase primary stakeholders—parents, families, neonatologists, and the infants themselves—who are seeking more effective and at-home based neonatal hyperbilirubinemia care. This report outlines the development and implementation plan for the JaundEase phototherapy device as well as data that supports its functionality. More extensive background information on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, current solutions, and existing patents can be found in the background section of this document. The outline section of this document contains more detailed information on the JaundEase device itself with specific deliverables and timelines for each deliverable present in the project management section. Finally, the purpose of the JaundEase device is briefly reiterated in the conclusion section alongside a brief description of the next JaundEase project deliverable and its timing.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bmedsp/214