{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:41:42Z","timestamp":1760146902338,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,19]],"date-time":"2024-12-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734566400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Opening the incubator side wall to insert a non-sterile length-measuring device carries the risk of microbial contamination and thermal instability for preterm infants. To reduce this inconvenience, a laser-based length-measuring board is proposed to measure body length from outside the incubator. Methods: This device has two laser-line-shaped cursors which can be pointed to opposite ends of a segment to be measured. It is attached to the outer side of one of the incubator\u2019s side walls in such a manner as to ensure that its axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the segment. To validate the measurements made with this model, a calibrated caliper consisting of a conventional rigid length-measuring board with a resolution of 0.05 mm was constructed to serve as a reference. Crown\u2013heel length was measured in a sample of 45 infants, including 32 preterm and 13 term infants of corrected gestational age at the time of measurement. Results: Good intra-observer variability was obtained. Near-perfect statistical agreement was found between measurements with both devices, with concordance correlation coefficients of 0.994 (95% CI: 0.990; 0.996) in preterm infants and 0.994 (95% CI: 0.988, 0.998) in infants at term. The clinical relevance of the agreement between measurements was assessed by a Bland\u2013Altman plot, and the difference may reach clinical relevance (up to 1 cm) but without evidence of proportional bias. Conclusion: The proposed validated laser-based length-measuring board offers a suitable alternative to conventional length-measuring boards for contactless measurement of infant body length.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children11121544","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,20]],"date-time":"2024-12-20T04:07:40Z","timestamp":1734667660000},"page":"1544","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Laser-Based Length-Measuring Board for the Measurement of Infant Body Length from Outside an Incubator: Proposal and Assessment of a Model"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6480-1048","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Pereira-da-Silva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Neonatology Unit, Hospital Dona Estef\u00e2nia and Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Unidade de Sa\u00fade Local S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9, Centro Cl\u00ednico Acad\u00e9mico de Lisboa, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Medicine of Woman, Childhood and Adolescence Academic Area, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias M\u00e9dicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"CHRC\u2014Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Nutrition Group, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias M\u00e9dicas, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0585-0904","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rafael B.","family":"Henriques","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Plasmas e Fus\u00e3o Nuclear, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Virella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neonatology Unit, Hospital Dona Estef\u00e2nia and Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Unidade de Sa\u00fade Local S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9, Centro Cl\u00ednico Acad\u00e9mico de Lisboa, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Andreia","family":"Mascarenhas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neonatology Unit, Hospital Dona Estef\u00e2nia and Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Unidade de Sa\u00fade Local S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9, Centro Cl\u00ednico Acad\u00e9mico de Lisboa, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ana Lu\u00edsa","family":"Papoila","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit, Unidade de Sa\u00fade Local S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9, Centro Cl\u00ednico Acad\u00e9mico de Lisboa, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre of Statistics and Its Applications, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Population Health Statistical Area, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias M\u00e9dicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7421-8550","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marta","family":"Alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit, Unidade de Sa\u00fade Local S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9, Centro Cl\u00ednico Acad\u00e9mico de Lisboa, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre of Statistics and Its Applications, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Population Health Statistical Area, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias M\u00e9dicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6542-7767","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hor\u00e1cio","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Plasmas e Fus\u00e3o Nuclear, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1017\/S0029665116000136","article-title":"Optimising preterm nutrition: Present and future","volume":"75","author":"Brennan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Proc. Nutr. Soc."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pereira-da-Silva, L., Virella, D., and Fusch, C. (2019). Nutritional assessment in preterm infants: A practical approach in the NICU. Nutrients, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11091999"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.1203\/00006450-199911000-00015","article-title":"Bone and collagen markers in preterm infants: Relationship with growth and bone mineral content over the first 10 weeks of life","volume":"46","author":"Crofton","year":"1999","journal-title":"Pediatr. Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2188","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/130.9.2188","article-title":"Body composition in human infants at birth and postnatally","volume":"130","author":"Koo","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1111\/ijpo.12181","article-title":"Do anthropometric measures accurately reflect body composition in preterm infants?","volume":"12","author":"Ramel","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pediatr. Obes."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1159\/000336127","article-title":"The relationship of poor linear growth velocity with neonatal illness and two-year neurodevelopment in preterm infants","volume":"102","author":"Ramel","year":"2012","journal-title":"Neonatology"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1564","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2013.06.032","article-title":"Preterm infant linear growth and adiposity gain: Trade-offs for later weight status and intelligence quotient","volume":"163","author":"Belfort","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2016.03.003","article-title":"Greater early gains in fat-free mass, but not fat mass, are associated with improved neurodevelopment at 1 year corrected age for prematurity in very low birth weight preterm infants","volume":"173","author":"Ramel","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1159\/000485667","article-title":"Accurate direct measures are required to validate derived measures","volume":"113","author":"Virella","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neonatology"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1136\/archdischild-2014-306448","article-title":"How to use: Nutritional assessment in neonates","volume":"100","author":"Johnson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Child. Educ. Pract. Ed."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"F391","DOI":"10.1136\/archdischild-2017-313595","article-title":"Why are preterm newborns at increased risk of infection?","volume":"103","author":"Collins","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2331011","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.31011","article-title":"Incidence of neonatal hypothermia in the newborn nursery and associated factors","volume":"6","author":"Dang","year":"2023","journal-title":"JAMA Netw. Open"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1143","DOI":"10.1258\/ar.2011.110268","article-title":"Measurement of leg-length discrepancy using laser-based ultrasound method","volume":"52","author":"Rannisto","year":"2011","journal-title":"Acta Radiol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1186\/s12937-015-0082-4","article-title":"Examining the utility of a laser device for measuring height in free-living adults and children","volume":"14","author":"Johnston","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutr. J."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1611","DOI":"10.1097\/IAE.0000000000001253","article-title":"Laser pointers revisited","volume":"36","author":"Bartsch","year":"2016","journal-title":"Retina"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"849","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0006-341X.2003.00099.x","article-title":"Estimating the generalized concordance correlation coefficient through variance components","volume":"59","author":"Carrasco","year":"2003","journal-title":"Biometrics"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Parker, R.A., Scott, C., In\u00e1cio, V., and Stevens, N.T. (2020). Using multiple agreement methods for continuous repeated measures data: A tutorial for practitioners. BMC Med. Res. Methodol., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12874-020-01022-x"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cheikh Ismail, L., Puglia, F.A., Ohuma, E.O., Ash, S.T., Bishop, D.C., Carew, R.M., Al Dhaheri, A.S., and Chumlea, W.C. (2016). Precision of recumbent crown-heel length when using an infantometer. BMC Pediatr., 16.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-016-0725-4"},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"435","article-title":"Comparison of infant length measurements using tape measure versus length board","volume":"23","author":"Ribeiro","year":"2023","journal-title":"Adv. Neonatal Care"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"837","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.60.9.837","article-title":"Length measurement in small neonates","volume":"60","author":"Smith","year":"1985","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Child."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1080\/03014469700005052","article-title":"Mini-knemometry: An accurate technique for lower leg length measurements in early childhood","volume":"24","author":"Hermanussen","year":"1997","journal-title":"Ann. Hum. Biol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e002976","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2020-002976","article-title":"Diagnostic accuracy of neonatal foot length to identify preterm and low birthweight infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"5","author":"Folger","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Glob. Health"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"F50","DOI":"10.1136\/fn.81.1.F50","article-title":"Knee-heel length measurement in healthy preterm infants","volume":"81","author":"Griffin","year":"1999","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"van Gils, R.H.J., Wauben, L.S.G.L., and Helder, O.K. (2022). Body size measuring techniques enabling stress-free growth monitoring of extreme preterm infants inside incubators: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 17.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0267285"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3476(05)82056-6","article-title":"New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants","volume":"119","author":"Ballard","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.1515\/JPEM.2003.16.4.537","article-title":"Measured length of normal term infants changes over the first two days of life","volume":"16","author":"Shinwell","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. Metab."}],"container-title":["Children"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/11\/12\/1544\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T16:55:57Z","timestamp":1760115357000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/11\/12\/1544"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,19]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["children11121544"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/children11121544","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-9067"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2227-9067"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,19]]}}}