GE Healthcare yesterday released the BiliSoft LED Phototherapy System, a blue LED and fiber optic-based technology for the treatment of indirect hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice in newborns. The company is showcasing this new technology this week at the Association for Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

BiliSoft can be used in any environment and was designed with the feedback of neonatal nurses. BiliSoft utilizes six blue LEDs with a “soft” large light pad, in two sizes, for use with premature infants or full-term babies. With a larger surface area, and more intensive light, BiliSoft also creates the opportunity for developmental positioning or swaddling of infants during treatment. A new, soft, flexible fiber optic light pad allows the swaddling of full-term babies to further enable feeding and holding during jaundice treatment.

“GE Healthcare designed the BiliSoft with both the newborn and caregiver in mind,” said Mike Genau, general manager of GE Healthcare’s Maternal and Infant Care business. “Our goal is to provide maximum efficiency in intensive phototherapy, while also allowing for positioning, swaddling and other direct contact with the baby. Enabling the continuation of developmental care was an important consideration for GE in the design of the BiliSoft.”