Pioneering medical equipment made by a Brighton firm for premature babies has been hailed as a major breakthrough.

The revolutionary Infant Flow System, developed by Electro Medical Equipment, has been improved to add a 'sigh breath' that will be an important part in fighting chronic lung disease among premature babies.

Steve Foster, Managing Director of EME, said: "As a small but successful British firm, we are very proud of our work on the Infant Flow System and are delighted the next generation of products is being recognised on national television.

"Our Infant Flow System helps reduce the time premature babies spend in intensive care and it's expected that further clinical trials will show that it can combat chronic lung disease.

"By avoiding conventional intubation it also rules out damage to the baby's palate which often needs correcting at a later stage with surgery or speech therapy.

"This has important cost implications for the NHS because of its non-invasive technique."

Viewers who tuned in to the BBC's flagship science and engineering programme last week, saw consultant neonatologist Simon Bignall using the new device during clinical trials on premature babies at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.

The NCPAP equipment, which stands for nasal continuous positive airway pressure, provides a non-invasive method of breathing support for premature babies. It helps them breathe without damaging their fragile lungs.

Instead of the more conventional breathing tube being inserted into the baby's mouth, tiny nasal prongs fit onto the infant's nose.

These safely deliver air into the lungs while a 'fluidic flip', designed by two Swedish doctors and developed by EME, is triggered by the baby's breathing and reverses the air flow to allow the baby to breathe out.

It is the sensory flip action that allows the baby to exhale naturally and not against an incoming air flow, which is being seen by the medical profession as a major contributory factor in reducing chronic lung disease among premature babies.

Mr Foster said: "There are other advantages too. Our non-invasive prongs, which deliver the oxygen, are very soft and pliable.

"Conventional in-tubation, inserting plastic tubes down the baby's throat, can be a distressing procedure for the infant and traumatic for parents to witness. These tubes can also be the cause of infection.

"Our system also allows parents to handle their baby outside the incubator, allowing the important bonding process to continue."

According to national statistics, of the 650,000 babies born each year in England and Wales, about 3,000 weigh less than 1,000 grams (about 2lbs).

Of that number, some 1,000 babies on respiratory support will develop chronic lung disease every year.

Mr Foster said: "At EME we are delighted to be making a positive contribution to the welfare of premature babies."

The concept of NCPAP was first designed by Swedish doctors Gunnar Moa and Kjell Nilsson. They worked closely with EME, which developed the device into the market leader it is today.