About

Cameron M. Baston is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. He specializes in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, with a focus on developing educational techniques for integrating point-of-care ultrasonography into the clinical practice of internal medicine and critical care specialists. His work is informed by experience in medicine in resource-limited settings and includes developing cost-effectiveness analysis related to critical care interventions. Baston also serves as the Director of Clinician Performed Ultrasound and is involved in medical device innovation through Penn HealthTech. His educational background includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, an MD from Jefferson Medical College, and an MSCE in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Research topics

• Emergency medicine
• Medicine
• Demography
• Internal medicine
• Virology

Selected publications

• Feasibility and Form Factor Validation of Reflective Shoulder-Mounted Pulse Oximeter in Patients with Suspected Sleep Apnea

  Sensors · 2026-02-15

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The shoulder may be an effective central site for continuous oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring but studies of shoulder-mounted pulse oximetry technology are limited. We hypothesized that an alternative location would be similar in function and user acceptance to a standard FDA-cleared finger-based pulse oximeter. We conducted a quantitative and descriptive pilot study of two prototype biosensor designs in patients with clinical suspicion of hypoxic episodes at an outpatient sleep center. Participants wore two prototype biosensors-the primary a shoulder-mounted adhesive and the secondary a combination ring-bracelet-in addition to a control FDA-approved finger-based pulse oximeter. We assessed the comfort of the devices based on a survey. We monitored 27 patients during an overnight polysomnography study. Participants rated the shoulder-mounted device more highly than the control device on a Likert scale survey of comfort (4.6 out of 5 versus 3.1 out of 5). Open-ended questionnaires showed that the two major criticisms of the control and ring devices were devices falling off and disruption to sleep, while only one participant commented on the shoulder device specifically. We also investigated SpO2 agreement between the primary shoulder-mounted prototype and the control finger-based pulse oximeter. This study confirms that alternative configurations for SpO2 monitoring offer potential as well-tolerated devices with preliminary findings of acceptable agreement. Problems with traditional pulse oximetry, such as false readings of hypoxia due to device removal or noisy data, were encountered less frequently in shoulder-mounted pulse oximetry than in the commercial finger-based device. Future directions include studies of additional populations that are at risk of respiratory collapse and surveys to elicit specific feedback on the configurations, whether positive or negative.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Development of Validity Evidence of a Standardized Competency Tool for Internal Jugular Vein Point of Care Ultrasound: Consensus Recommendations from International Experts

  Journal of General Internal Medicine · 2026-01-08

  article
  PublisherDOI

• “Nobody Deserves to Overdose and Die by Themselves”: A Qualitative User Experience Study of a Wearable Sensor Prototype Designed to Detect Opioid-Related Overdose (Preprint)

  2025-03-06

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> For over a decade, drug overdose has been the leading cause of injury and accidental death in the United States. Most fatal overdoses involve opioids and occur during solitary drug use events when no one is available to initiate lifesaving responses (e.g., rescue breathing or naloxone).​ There is a growing interest in overdose detection technologies that detect and enable rapid, automated responses. However, little user experience research has been conducted to inform device design.​ </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This qualitative study explores user experience and key features driving device acceptability among people who inject drugs who wore a shoulder-mounted sensor for one week. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> We recruited individuals ≥18 years reporting past week injection drug use from a walk-in substance use disorder clinic. Participants were assigned a prototype sensor to wear on their upper arm for one week. At baseline, they completed a brief survey assessing socio-demographic and behavioral information. At exit, they completed semi-structured interviews that explored experiences and preferences for next-generation sensors. Structured field notes and transcripts were analyzed to identify perceived benefits and harms, and key design considerations important to improve the acceptability of the sensor prototype. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> Participants (n=23) were predominantly middle-aged (median age 41 years), non-Hispanic White (65%), and male (61%). The majority engaged in polysubstance use (57%) and reported an average of 5 daily injection events over the past three months. Of the participants, 70% returned an intact prototype and completed an exit interview. Overall, participants found wearable overdose detection and response devices acceptable, with perceived benefits outweighing potential harms. They unanimously supported the need for small, discreet devices that wouldn’t be noticeable to others. However, most participants emphasized that no single device could fully address end users’ needs, suggesting the importance of offering multiple, customizable response options. Concerns about false positives were also raised, as they could hinder adoption once devices are available on the market. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Interviews with a small group of potential users show that wearable overdose technologies are generally well-received, especially when they are tailored to users’ preferences for design, functionality, and accuracy. Continuously refining the design with feedback from end users is key to creating a device that truly meets their needs and enhances their overall experience. </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• Building a Sensor to Detect and Respond to Opioid Overdose: Experiences on a Wearable Prototype From People who Inject Drugs

  Drug and Alcohol Dependence · 2025-02-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Use of a Shoulder-Mounted Wearable Sensor Prototype Designed to Detect Opioid-Related Overdose: A Qualitative User Experience Study

  Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2025-05-20

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Background: For over a decade, drug overdose has been the leading cause of injury and accidental death in the United States. Most fatal overdoses involve opioids and occur during solitary drug use events when no one is available to initiate lifesaving responses (eg, naloxone). While there is a growing interest in devices providing early overdose detection and automated responses, little research has engaged end users in a device design process. Objective: This study aimed to describe user experience, perceived harms and benefits, and the acceptability of a shoulder-mounted wearable sensor among people who inject drugs who wore a device prototype for 7 days and to explore real-time responses that could be incorporated into a next-generation sensor. Methods: Individuals aged ≥18 years reporting past week injection drug use were recruited from a walk-in substance use disorder clinic in Camden, New Jersey. Participants completed a brief survey assessing sociodemographics and recent drug use and were assigned a sensor prototype that they were asked to wear near-continuously for 7 days. At endline, they completed semistructured interviews exploring acceptability, usability, and form and function preferences for next-generation devices with integrated automated response options. Structured field notes and transcripts were analyzed to identify key themes and design considerations. Results: Participants (n=23) had a median age of 41 years. Most were primarily non-Hispanic White (65%) males (61%), experiencing homelessness (57%) who reported daily injection drug use (74%) within 3 months and receipt of opioid use disorder medication within a month (74%). A total of 16 people completed an exit interview. They found the concept of a shoulder-mounted overdose detection device acceptable and unanimously endorsed the need for long-lasting discreet devices. They emphasized the importance of having multiple response options that wearers could tailor to their individual circumstances and preferences, noting some might prefer an automatic call to emergency services, while others might prefer to alert a peer. Participants expressed a preference for solutions that alert first responders over automated biomedical solutions, such as naloxone injection, because of concerns about device error (eg, false positives) leading to precipitated withdrawal. Conclusions: After wearing a shoulder-mounted prototype, this small group of participants found the idea acceptable and provided feedback to improve usability and design. Data suggest that a variety of devices with differing functions, sizes, and capacities will be needed to meet user needs and increase the likelihood of adoption once devices come to market.

  PublisherDOI

• Rib Reverberation: An Important New Artifact in Lung Ultrasound

  POCUS Journal · 2025-04-15 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Point of care ultrasound of the lungs has emerged as a crucial tool in the evaluation of hypoxemia in critical care and hospital medicine settings. The ability to distinguish the horizontal A-line artifact from other lung pathology is essential for guiding clinical decision making. Typically, ribs and their acoustic shadows are used as anchoring anatomy to ensure visualization of pleura and parenchyma. We present a case of horizontal reverberation artifacts incidentally observed over a rib during a point of care lung ultrasound (LUS) in a 77-year-old patient with persistent hypoxic respiratory failure. Describing these reverberation artifacts caused by ribs is important to decrease the chance of misinterpretation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Novel Shoulder-Mounted Pulse Oximeter in Patients with Suspected Sleep Apnea: Design and Patient Perceptions

  Preprints.org · 2025-12-19

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  The shoulder may be an effective central site for continuous oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring but studies of shoulder-mounted pulse oximetry technology are limited. We hypothesized that a shoulder-based biosensor device would be similar in function and user acceptance to a standard FDA-cleared finger-based pulse oximeter. We conducted a quantitative and descriptive pilot study of two prototype biosensor designs in patients with clinical suspicion of hypoxic episodes at an outpatient sleep center. Participants wore two prototype biosensors–the first a shoulder-mounted adhesive and the second a combination ring-bracelet–in addition to a control FDA-approved finger-based pulse oximeter. We assessed SpO2 agreement among the devices as well as the comfort of the devices based on a survey. We monitored 27 patients during an overnight polysomnography study. The prototype shoulder pulse oximeter SpO2 readings agreed with the control values of the commercial finger-based pulse oximeter with a 0.72% mean absolute error. Participants rated the shoulder-mounted device more highly than the control device on a Likert-scale survey of comfort (4.6 out of 5 versus 3.1 out of 5). Open-ended questionnaires showed that the two major criticisms of the control and ring devices were devices falling off and disruption to sleep while only one participant commented on the shoulder device, specifically. This study confirms that alternative configurations for SpO2 monitoring offer potential as accurate and well-tolerated devices. Problems with traditional pulse oximetry, such as false readings of hypoxia due to device removal or noisy data, were encountered less frequently in shoulder-mounted pulse oximetry than in the commercial finger-based device. Future directions include studies of additional populations that are at risk of respiratory collapse and surveys to elicit specific feedback on the configurations, whether positive or negative.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Internal Medicine Residency Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Consensus Recommendations for Core Indications and Applications

  The American Journal of Medicine · 2025-06-10 · 5 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Diaphragm Ultrasound for Assessing Diaphragmatic Function and Predicting Ventilator Weaning Success: A Review of the Literature

  Current Pulmonology Reports · 2025-12-19

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Purpose of Review This manuscript reviews technical principles, clinical applications, and growing evidence around the use of diaphragmatic ultrasound (DU) as a practical, accurate, and reproducible tool for evaluating diaphragm function — with an emphasis on its role in predicting weaning outcomes from mechanical ventilation. This review outlines the standard techniques for performing DU, including assessing diaphragmatic excursion and thickening fraction. Additionally, we synthesize current literature that utilizes DU as a tool for predicting ventilator weaning success. Recent Findings DU has utility as a tool to assess diaphragm function. Multiple studies have used DU as a tool to predict successful ventilator weaning. Summary DU is a versatile, accessible modality that overcomes many limitations of traditional assessments. As evidence continues to expand, adoption of DU will require continued emphasis on training, standardization, and studying clinical integration.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK IN THE MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A MULTIFACETED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

  CHEST Journal · 2024-09-18

  article
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Nova L. Panebianco

  University of Pennsylvania

  16 shared

• Nathaniel Reisinger

  University of Pennsylvania

  8 shared

• Anthony J. Dean

  5 shared

• Momodou L. Sonko

  University of Pennsylvania

  4 shared

• Thomas Arnold

  4 shared

• Wilma Chan

  University of Pennsylvania

  4 shared

• Frances S. Shofer

  Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

  4 shared

• Claude Guérin

  Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

  4 shared

Education

• MSCE, Medicine

  University of Pennsylvania

  2018

• BS, Mechanical Engineering

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  2004