Sanitised umbilical-cord cutting

Researchers at Tulane University, New Orleans have designed an inexpensive device that could prevent millions of infection-related neonatal deaths in developing countries.

The small plastic clamp, called SafeSnip, cuts, seals and disinfects an umbilical cord in one step.

The device, which was developed by a Tulane University professor and bioengineering graduates, could be particularly useful in regions such as south-east Asia and Africa, where home births are common and infants are susceptible to infections caused by unsanitary birth conditions.

'You take the umbilical cord in one hand and just clamp down on it,' said William Kethman, who applied for a patent on the device with fellow graduates Bryan Molter, Stephanie Roberts and Mark Young, as well as David Rice, associate professor of biomedical engineering.