Electro Medical Equipment (EME) of Brighton will demonstrate its latest new-born baby care product to specialists at an exhibition at York University next week.

The exhibition, organised by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, attracts up to 2,000 delegates, including some of the country's leading consultants in neonatal and paediatric care.

EME's infant flow advance system helps term and premature babies reduce the trauma of mechanically-assisted breathing without damaging their fragile lungs.

Clinicians can ability to adapt the system to suit individual baby's requirements.

It offers an alternative to the more invasive method of inserting a tube into the baby's airway to deliver oxygen into its lungs.

Either nasal prongs or a tiny masks can be fitted on the baby's nose.

A fluid switch, invented by Swedish doctors Gunnar Moa and Kjell Nilsson and developed by EME engineers, gently assists the infant's spontaneous breathing.

An abdominal sensor detects the baby's breathing and sends a signal to the unit to increase the flow of oxygenated air when the baby is making an effort to breathe on its own.

Breath will also be delivered if the sensor detects a period when the baby has stopped breathing, enabling it to continue treatment without costly conventional ventilation.

The new treatment has been used on babies born up to 16 weeks' premature.

Managing director Steve Foster said: "Our system is acknowledged as an industry leader for providing a gentle and non-invasive method of breathing support to premature babies, allowing about 40 per cent not to need full ventilation.

"We were delighted when it received the Queen's Award for Innovation last year but we haven't rested on our laurels and are continually striving to improve our products."