BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - A simple pacifier could soon become a life-saving medical tool, thanks to a collaboration between Purdue University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Backed by a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, researchers are developing a “smart pacifier,” which uses advanced technology to monitor a baby’s lungs.

The device, which looks like a regular pacifier, is fitted with tiny microphones and speakers. The microphones are designed to detect lung sounds, while the speakers emit sound waves. Together, they provide doctors with critical data about a newborn’s lung development and potential breathing problems — issues that are especially common among infants.

Dr. Namasivayam Ambalavanan, a UAB neonatologist, explained how the tec

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