# Momitor: Wearable Technology for Early Detection of Postpartum Hemorrhage

> **NIH NIH R41** · VASOWATCH LLC · 2022 · $244,683

## Abstract

Abstract:
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide and
disproportionately affects minority populations. PPH is defined as a large loss of blood within 24 hours
of birth. If detected early enough, effective clinical management solutions exist that significantly reduce
mortality. Current standard of care for detecting PPH rely on vital sign monitoring and visually
inspecting the mother’s pad to estimate blood loss. However, visual inspection of pads is subjective
and error prone while deterioration in vital signs are delayed indicators of maternal blood volume
changes. Consequently, early and accurate detection of PPH remains a significant clinical challenge.
Vasowatch LLC is developing an automated, continuous, and minimally burdensome monitoring
system, called the Momitor, that can (1) accurately and rapidly identify symptoms of PPH and (2)
deliver real-time and actionable clinical decision support linked to the identified PPH symptoms. The
Momitor system will consist of a wearable device worn on an extremity consisting of LEDs,
phototransistors, Wi-Fi radio, and battery. The non-invasive wearable will collect
photoplethysmography (PPG) waveform data, run an algorithm that identifies the onset of waveform
changes suggestive of PPH, and alert clinical staff to assess the mother through a cloud-based system
with SMS and dashboard alerting capabilities. During PPH the body automatically diverts blood from
non-vital extremities to vital organs as a lifesaving measure – which delays deterioration in vital signs.
Consequently, rather than relying on error-prone visual inspection of sanitary pads and monitoring for
delayed vital sign changes, the Momitor aims to screen for the mother’s automatic compensatory
response consistent with PPH and hypovolemia. In this Phase I STTR, we will demonstrate proof-of-
concept for detecting PPH before vital sign deterioration based on a modified compensatory reserve
estimation by demonstrating an algorithm that can accurately detect PPH before existing standard of
care, prototyping a wearable device that can collect and analyze PPG data for PPH from admission
to 24-hours postpartum. Receipt of NIH funds will allow us to demonstrate proof-of-concept of the
Momitor and provide sufficient evidence to pursue FDA Breakthrough Device designation. We believe
this solution will address an urgent need and will broadly be appealing to hospitals, resulting in lower
costs and greatly improved outcomes for patients – regardless of race. Expansion into non-hospital-
based birth centers will follow.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10483278
- **Project number:** 1R41HL164191-01
- **Recipient organization:** VASOWATCH LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Christine Rohan
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $244,683
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10483278

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10483278, Momitor: Wearable Technology for Early Detection of Postpartum Hemorrhage (1R41HL164191-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10483278. Licensed CC0.

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