How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD

How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD

May 26, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

Aimen Shaaban discusses a new flexible probe developed for real-time fetal monitoring during surgery.

Fetal surgery can be lifesaving for babies diagnosed with complex conditions before birth, but it comes with significant challenges, including limited ability to monitor the fetus in real time. A Northwestern Medicine team has developed a first-of-its-kind flexible probe, designed for continuous real-time fetal monitoring during surgery. This innovation is the result of a collaboration between Northwestern University bioelectronics pioneer John Rogers, PhD , and Aimen Shaaban, MD , director of the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health. In this episode, Shaaban explains how the device works, how the collaboration took place and what it will take to bring this technology out of the lab and into clinical care.

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Guests: Aimen Shaaban, MD, Aimen Shaaban

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Organizations: Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago Institute for Fetal Health

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